The Union of Tertiary Educators of the Bahamas started industrial action against the College of the Bahamas yesterday.

The union has stated that it will continue to strike until the college presents its members with evidence that COB will negotiate in good faith and secure a timely resolution towards an industrial agreement for faculty.

Representatives from both teams were due to meet with Labour Minister Dion Foulkes and Minister of Education Desmond Bannister today on the condition that UTEB held off the strike.

Minister Foulkes confirmed that although the previous agreement was not adhered to, he and Minister Bannister will continue to work towards bringing both sides back to the negotiating table.

The cry for both parties to come together and re-engage timely negotiations is resonant throughout the community.

PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts said: "The PLP is concerned that lecturers of the nation's publicly owned tertiary level institution have to take to the picket lines in order to get a just and equitable contract. There is a need for both sides to return to the bargaining table forthwith."

In response to the charge that the Department of Labour had not done enough to administer negotiations between the two groups, Minister Foulkes pointed out that Director of Labour Harcourt Brown, or a relevant labour official, was present at all negotiation meetings.

Yesterday, horns blared from passing motorists on Poinciana Drive - usually truck drivers - showing solidarity for union members who demonstrated from 8am to shortly after 4pm.

During their demonstration the union called into question the validity of statements made by persons -- including College of the Bahamas Union of Students President Jamaal Knowles - that students who don't attend examinations will forfeit their grade. The union's president said this directly challenges the student's rights to cross the picket line and is misguided as the course lecturer holds final decisions for student grading.

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