A series of mix-ups spanning several months over a para-educator's pay led to colleagues striking for a day and a half, according to teachers' union boss Mike Charles.

Clearwater Middle School teachers took industrial action last Thursday and Friday — only returning to their classrooms after the teacher received her outstanding salary and the Ministry of Education issued an apology. Acting Education Minister Nelson Bascome visited the school for an emergency meeting on Friday morning, before Acting Permanent Secretary Radell Tankard ordered a review of Accounts Departments procedures to avoid any repeat mistakes.

Mr. Charles, general secretary of Bermuda Union of Teachers, told The Royal Gazette last night: "The teachers took some action simply because one of their members had not been paid for a while.

"There were a whole lot of different things that happened that meant she didn't get paid. There was enough blame to go around. It was a general mix-up. We were able to resolve it on Friday morning and hopefully everything's OK now. But it should have been done much sooner.

"It had been going on for some time, some months. The teachers felt there was nothing else they could do as things weren't moving quickly enough."

Mr. Charles declined to expand on what had happened with the mix-up, but said it involved the Ministry and the Accountant General.

The Ministry of Education said in a statement written on Friday: "Following a meeting with teachers at Clearwater Middle School this morning, Nelson Bascome, Minister of Health and Acting Minister of Education confirms that the teachers were not willing to return to their classrooms this morning and chose to continue to temporarily withhold their teaching from the students until the salary concerns, related to a para-educator at the school, were resolved.

"The Minister, this afternoon, confirms that the matter has been resolved, the para-educator has received her outstanding salary and the teachers have returned to their regular teaching schedules.

"The Ministry wishes to offer an apology to the para-educator who has been subjected to unintentional delays in salary payment, the principal, faculty and the staff of Clearwater Middle School.

"The Ministry also extends its sincere apologies to parents and students who have been affected over the last two days by this matter and thank them for their understanding and cooperation.

"Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Radell Tankard, who attended Clearwater Middle School this morning with the Acting Education Minister, has asked that a complete review of the accounts departments procedures, as they relate to this most recent matter, be undertaken with a view to implementing procedures that will remove the possibility of a reoccurrence.

"The students at the Clearwater Middle School have returned to their regular studies and activities schedule."