only a few issues still in dispute.

Government Labour Relations Officer Mr. Gladstone (Tab) Bassett said yesterday he had met with Government's side and plans to meet soon with teachers. He said he was confident progress can be made.

Teachers have been working without a contract since August 31 last year.

Amalgamated Bermuda Union of Teachers organiser Mr. Milton Scott said he believed the outstanding issues could be resolved in a single morning of binding arbitration -- something to which teachers are prepared to submit.

He said general agreement had been reached on wages and just four teachers' demands remain unresolved: The creation of "teacher conference days'' -- about three a year -- set aside specifically for parents to meet with teachers.

The creation of "record days'' set aside for teachers to catch up with paperwork and marking. Specific time for such work is only set aside at the end of term.

Fourteen weeks maternity leave -- two weeks more than that given civil servants. Mr. Scott said teachers argue that they must stop teaching after seven months -- unless a special waiver allows them to continue to eight months. No such restriction applies to civil servants, he said.

Payment for time spent marking Bermuda Secondary School Certificate examinations.