Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) President Belinda Wilson said yesterday that she was not at all pleased with the outcome of Monday’s conciliation talks with education officials.

The two sides are trying to resolve six disputes.

They include the reassignment of teachers in two cases, the reclassification of 160 union members, the “illegal” deduction of money from teachers’ salary for medical insurance, the refusal of the union’s access to school as well as the health and safety of teachers at both Uriah McPhee and Stephen Dillet Primary Schools.

But according to the union president, the Ministry of Education is “ducking and dodging” the issue.

“We the union feels as though all the ministry is doing is filibustering and stretching out this process,” she said.

“We have not reached any amicable resolution and if we cannot reach any, then we will have to seek another option.”
Mrs. Wilson also called out Minister of Education, Science & Technology Jerome Fitzgerald for not giving the union a copy of an environmental report.

Her announcement came in the wake of a press conference last Friday during which the minister revealed the findings of a report conducted by the Department of Environmental Health, which showed that the Uriah McPhee and Stephen Dillet Primary Schools were in good enough condition to reopen.

But, Mrs. Wilson said the minister promised that the union would receive a copy of that report, which she claimed has not happened as yet.

“I understood from the media reports that the ministry said the union has a copy of the report,” she said.

“We do not have any report. I keep stating to the minister and his team that they should not be sending any messages to us through the media or through journalists. They have our contact information and how to reach us. There is no need for them to be sending any messages.”

The union is expected resume conciliation talks with education officials this morning.

The president said if nothing comes out of today’s meeting then she would have to continue with her plan of seeking international assistance.