A pay dispute caused teachers at a majority of the Island’s public schools to “work to rule” yesterday and possibly today.

Both the Ministry of Education and Bermuda Union of Teachers general secretary Mike Charles said they were not sure if teachers would resume regular working conditions today or continue operating under “work to rule” conditions. Mr. Charles alleged that the dispute was about the Government “reneging” on a payment package decided over a year ago that would have given teachers a 4.5 percent increase to their salary this year.

He would not say what percentage the teachers had been offered and a statement from the Ministry only said the situation came about “as a result of the pay package offered to teachers”.

Working to rule means that educators will solely teach children and not to other duties they usually perform such supervising students during recess. The last time teachers worked to rule over a pay dispute in 2004 they also refrained from invigilating exams such as the Terra Nova exams.

Mr. Charles alleged that a payment package had been decided last year after both sides spent more than a year at the negotiation table.

He claimed: “Both sides agreed we would send the information to Management Services, who scale civil servants salaries, and both sides said they would abide by what they said. They recommended that teachers be on PS27-29 pay level.

“But the Government reneged on it.

“They give teachers lip service and say how valued they are but they do not show it. Many teachers are really upset over their offer.”

A Ministry of Education spokeswoman said: “With a view to seek resolution to this matter, the Ministry has referred it to the Government Labour Relations Office so that it can be settled through arbitration.

“In order to ensure the safety of students yesterday, the Ministry deployed security personnel to assist principals. A number of education officers and some parents assisted as well.”

The spokeswoman said the Ministry was “unsure” how much longer the union action would continue “but will take necessary steps to keep students safe and continue to keep parents informed”.

Mr. Charles said he could not comment on how long the work to rule action would continue or if teachers would go to arbitration with the Government.

But he did say: “We hope that this can be resolved quickly so teachers can get back to doing what we love, teaching.

“We do not want to do this but it is something that has been forced up on us.”