launch an official protest against Government for "breach'' of their collective agreement.

Amalgamated Bermuda Union of Teachers organiser Mr. Milton Scott said the union is being forced to file a complaint after the Education Ministry insisted on cutting two awards -- sabbaticals and compensation or honoraria for teachers carrying out extra-curricular activities -- which were handed down by the teachers review board in 1991.

"Government agreed to be bound by the Review Board ruling and by unilaterally withdrawing this condition of service they are now engaging in another unfair employment practice,'' Mr. Scott said of the proposed cuts which will directly affect teachers.

"The Bermudian public expects that Government, as an employer, would set an example for other employer organisations and would act in a more responsible manner.'' Mr. Scott said while the union's experience with filing grievances against the Ministry has been "dismal'', it was prepared to take these matters to the point of arbitration.

"And we believe we will get a ruling in our favour,'' he said.

"When we went out on strike in 1989, it cost us almost half a million dollars. Teachers don't like to strike. It is a last resort. But teachers also will not tolerate a benefit they fought for being taken away.'' Mr. Scott said Government's proposal to cut funding for sabbaticals and extra-curricular activities showed "utter contempt'' for the ABUT as a professional body and for teachers.

The teacher awards were just two of several things the Education Ministry placed on its chopping board this year.

The Ministry was also looking at cutting 25 teachers, summer school, 50 percent of the textbook budget, teachers' pay for overseas conferences and workshops, and grants for general equipment and supplies, and school trips.

Mr. Scott reiterated that such cuts were not in the best interests of the public school system. And he said, if implemented, they would "significantly hamper the ability of teachers to deliver the type of instruction young people in our Island require and deserve''.

In a paid-for statement appearing in today's paper, the ABUT call on the public to let Government know the proposed cuts in education should not be implemented.

Mr. Scott disclosed that some 18 months ago the union proposed to train 35 teachers, at no expense to the Government, in a programme that would teach students about drug prevention and drug abuse.

He said the proposal -- which if implemented would have meant three schools having all teachers trained in the Skills For Adolescents programme by January last year -- was turned down with no reason given.

Yesterday, Education Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons said: "I can't remember the history of that.'' He also refuted a claim that Education Permanent Secretary Dr. Marion Robinson was responsible for preventing the programme, introduced to the Island by the Lions Club, from being implemented.

The claim was made during a drug forum on Tuesday night by chairman of the National Drug Strategy's Interim Steering Committee Mr. Alastair Macdonald.

Mr. Macdonald said little progress had been made in implementing the programme since its introduction more than five years ago.

But Mr. Simons said the programme was not successful when it was initially implemented by counsellors at several schools.

He said after recognising this, it was taken out of high schools in 1989, re-assessed, and introduced -- by teachers trained in the programme -- in 11 primary schools and three special schools in May last year.

Mr. Simons said the programme was expected to be in all primary schools by September, and the Ministry was considering introducing a "Skills For Growing'' programme for Primary One to Six students.

High schools already had a Health and Family Life course which deals with making wise choices, he added.

Dr. Robinson was off the Island yesterday and not available for comment.