Bermuda Teacher’s Union End ‘Work To Rule’

September 1, 2017

[Written by Don Burgess]

The Bermuda Union of Teachers ended its three-month work to rule this morning at a crowded meeting at New Testament Church of God that saw approximately 700 teachers in attendance.

The union, which represents public school teachers, had three issues they sought resolution.

The first is scale posts, which is where a teacher has extra responsibilities where they might be the science or language arts coordinator to ensure that the science or language arts objectives are being pushed.

The BUT reached an agreement with the Minister of Education and Commissioner of Education on Monday of this week that there will be reduced teaching responsibilities for teachers holding scale posts.

BUT president Shannon James said, “that a lot of the responsibilities that were packed in there before have come off to ensure what needs to be delivered can be delivered.”

He said whoever had a scale post from before will keep them for this month but they will be internally advertised and the successful applicants will have those responsibilities until the end of the 2017-18 school year.

He said next school year; those posts will be advertised system-wide which will allow for some movement of teachers within Bermuda.

Mr. James added it didn’t make sense to disrupt the current school year by having teachers having to move one month into the term.

Mr. James said this was a positive step forward and even though the other two issues were not resolved, he is hopeful they will be soon.

“We’re going to give them a chance. We took this first one as an olive branch,” he said.

A second issue involves the teaching deputy principals at the primary schools while the third was that the words ‘modern and relevant’ would be added to the Preamble of the collective bargaining agreement. Both of those issues are expected to be resolved by October 31.

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Comments (19)

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  1. Point boy says:

    Just nasty! Loyal to the plp to the end!

    Don’t matter that the previous Government(OBA) brought us back from financial disaster created by the plp.

    Everyone wants the best while defending the worst!

    What was it, July?, all the mold jumped off our school walls.

    No wool over my eyes

    • have some backbone says:

      TO Point Boy:
      That nasty oba did nothing for BERMUDA’S public school children.
      Good riddance to them and their beloved Grant Gibbons who eloquently deserted the public school students in favour of America Cup!!
      Have you heard of anything more unintelligent???

    • Onion Juice says:

      Now thats what I call good Goverance.

  2. Point boy says:

    The 7 P’s

    :prior
    :proper
    :planning
    :prevents
    :piss
    :poor
    :performance

  3. Point boy says:

    I’m just asking and want an honest answer as to where the mold went this year compared to last!

    I’m not being thick. but from what I learn, this is politics 101

  4. Unbelievable says:

    Why is education such a complicated issue for the Bermuda Government?

  5. Francis says:

    So much greed.

  6. Jose says:

    Oh their election campaign work is over now lol

  7. Rocky5 says:

    Far from unanimous. PLP talking heads just temporarily emasculated BUT. This will slowly change as REAL PLP agenda/Friends & Family plan sinks in and right thinking BUT members realise that PLP power plan involves NOT improving education

  8. elizabeth says:

    IMO all teachers whether in private or public, all levels of education should “all have to obtain a Masters Degree!”
    keep everyone at the same level.
    Thank you

  9. Onion Juice says:

    Thats what I call progress.

  10. Zevon says:

    Wouldn’t it be great if we could hire the best teachers we could find, based solely on merit.

  11. Hubris says:

    BUT: We only have 1 cookie and Americas Cup got 2. Work to rule until we get 2 cookies!!

    GOV: (Takes the BUT cookie, cuts it into 2 pieces hands them to the BUT)

    BUT: (looking quite content) Now this is a government that cares about education. Thanks!

  12. Bermy bud says:

    Progress? That ain’t progress! Progress is when u see Bermudian children progressing not teachers! Smh! Plp know how to govern but all the wrong policies!

  13. cpm says:

    Mike Charles will not allow his sheepies [members ] to complain about anything to do with mold or schools not being ready for our students
    If the OBA was in Government there would be a march about Dellwood so why are Dellwood parents accepting this situation
    100 days and a magic wand

    • Onion Juice says:

      If O.B.A. would’ve had our students as a priority, then we would’nt be in this position. But Americas Cup was First Class.
      When T.N.T teachers complained, they were told by de milkman that they were trouble makers, and ending up having to close the school and students moved to ClearWater.