President Belinda Wilson and Executives of the BUT met with the Minister of Labour D Shane Gibson and his team on Monday, December 9th 2013. At the meeting, Minister Gibson and the union were able to resolve most of the outstanding matters.

Matters discussed were (1) BUT medical insurance plan (2) union access to school campuses (3) union holding meetings during school hours (4) reassignments of shop steward and teachers (5) absence from duty letters and pay cut (6) new teachers (7) Bahamian teachers on contract (8) payment of millions owed to teachers (9) review of salary scales (10) health & safety concerns at Stephen Dillett and Uriah Mcphee schools (11)CBA 2013- 2016 counterproposals (12)career paths and (13) world teachers day.

The BUT is very pleased that the teachers who are owed millions of dollars for many years will be paid.

Although the union has access to all school campuses, the matter of meetings being held on school campuses during school break or lunch time is still not resolved. This complaint is still active at the ILO.

Very importantly,the union has not received any reports from the Department of Environmental Health Services or Ministry of Education on the status of Stephen Dillette and Uriah Mcphee schools and no report was available at the meeting today. So, this matter is still unresolved and the complaint is still active with the ILO.

The BUT wants to thank Minister D Shane Gibson for his intervention and we hope that all of the outstanding matters will be resolved before school closes for the Christmas next week.

A General Membership Meeting will be held in New Providence on Thursday, December 12th 2013 at 4:00pm at Walkers Hall, Bethell Avenue.