Education Minister Milton Scott remains confident most teachers will still be able to carry out all their school duties despite their vote to stop work after 35 hours each week.

Senator Scott said most people work more than 35 hours a week, but he was sure the majority of teachers could complete their school tasks in that time.

He was responding to a decision by the Bermuda Union of Teachers, revealed to The Royal Gazette yesterday, that members will stop work after the statutory 35 hours.

Teachers will refuse to do work at home in the evenings or at weekends because they said they were not being paid -- a move which could lead to delays in marking homework and class preparations.

Referring to a claim by BUT general secretary Michael Charles that the Minister -- a former leader of the union -- had lost the confidence of teachers, Sen. Scott said: "I am not in a popularity contest.'' The BUT vote on Tuesday night was in response to a decision made by arbitrator Clevelyn Crichlow, who was called in following sickouts in October over working hours which closed all but two of Bermuda's public schools.

Scott trusts teachers will do the right thing Mr. Crichlow, the Postmaster General, ruled that teachers are mandated to work 35 hours a week and should seek payment for anything above that.

The BUT said most teachers do extra work such as marking and preparation for lessons, but claimed it was impossible to get payment for overtime at home because they could not prove they did the work.

Sen. Scott said yesterday: "Everyone works beyond what they are required to do. If you put in a 35-hour week a lot of things that need to be done would not get done.

"The majority of teachers in our schools have the interests of the schools at heart and take work seriously, and they will ensure that for work they have to do, such as parent teachers association meetings or conferences, they will be there and will do the job they are paid to do.

"I expect teachers will do what is necessary in terms of carrying out their responsibilities as a teacher.

"I think teachers have a job to do and most of them can do it in the time period allocated under their terms and conditions of employment.

"The agreement says if teachers find there isn't enough time, there is a procedure for talking with the principal.'' He added: "The award was made and everyone clearly understands the award and expect things to get back to normal, but there are still lots of concerns out there in schools and we are developing a mechanism to come to grips with those concerns.

"I have to be responsive to the needs of the children and the teachers,'' Sen. Scott said. "Our teachers work under trying circumstances.

"We recognise that schools are a microcosm of the community and recognise that there are concerns there and hope we can talk them through.'' Responding to Mr. Charles' claim that he had lost the confidence of teachers, Sen. Scott said: "I am not in a popularity contest.'' EDUCATION ED