Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) President Belinda Wilson said yesterday that her union is at an impasse with education officials over six disputes.

Both sides are trying to resolve issues regarding 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.

Mrs. Wilson said she had been in meetings all day, but there was no resolution.

“My next step is to speak to the Minister of Labour [Shane Gibson] and then go from there,” she told The Bahama Journal Wednesday.

The union president claims the officials in the Ministry of Education are “ducking and dodging” the issue.

“We, the union, feel that all the ministry is doing is stretching out this process,” she said yesterday.

“We have not reached any amicable resolution and if we cannot reach any, then we will have to seek another option.”

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

“If the minister continues his posture, we’re going to have no other choice but to seek international assistance in this matter,” she said.

“Our affiliates include Education International, The Caribbean Union of Teachers, the International Labour Organization and the United Nations. We’re going to have to draw all our colleagues from within the region.”

The debacle started when teachers at Uriah McPhee, Stephen Dillet and Carlton E. Francis Primary Schools refused to teach at their schools for several weeks due to poor working conditions.

As a result students did not attend those schools for at least two weeks.