The impasse ended yesterday at a meeting the Minister of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Dale Bisnauth, scheduled with the two parties.

Dr. Bisnauth announced the breakthrough at a press briefing yesterday.

A former Education Minister, Dr. Bisnauth said the discussions were conducted in a cordial atmosphere, but noted that in accordance with labour regulations pertaining to the conclusion of a strike, the union has up to 72 hours to ensure that teachers resume work. However, he is hoping that the union will not use the “letter of the law” and, instead, resume duty today or probably tomorrow.

One of the “sticky” issues which delayed the conclusion of the terms of resumption was the issue of salary proposals for 2002-2004. This was amicably resolved through the arrival of a suitable formula by the two sides, the Minister informed the media. They will now conduct bilateral negotiations on the issue.

The other contentious matter which was resolved was the payment of vacation allowance for last year. Chief Labour Officer, Mohamed Akeel, explained that there was some mix-up with the amount of money needed to make the payments. However, agreement was reached for the Ministry of Education to make new applications to the Treasury to have the required funds provided.

It was further agreed that instructions to pay the vacation allowances reach the respective Regional Executive Officers in the regions within two weeks of the signed terms of resumption between the two parties.

The Labour Minister also said that time-frames have been agreed to in order to have the various terms of resumption to be implemented, adding that it was one the matters that caused “much hold up.”

Dr. Bisnauth also noted that embodied in the terms of resumptions are normal conditions which pertain to the conclusion of strikes, including no victimization, no transfers and no secondments.

He said compromises on both sides resulted in the amicable conclusion of the strike, but noted that the ideal situation would have been the two parties resolving their differences without the intervention of a third party.

He observed that there is a need for continual updating of collective bargaining agreements because of the emergence of new paradigms in labour relations.

Dr. Bisnauth also dispelled suspicions which he said were developing during the strike that the Minister of Education, Dr. Henry Jeffrey was anti-union. He said that on the contrary, he found Dr. Jeffrey to be fair at all times during the course of the impasse.

Following the deadlock between the Ministry of Education and the GTU, the Advisory Committee was established by the Labour Ministry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the dispute between the Ministry of Education and the union on salary increases and improved working conditions for teachers.

The report of the Advisory Committee was compiled and submitted to the relevant authorities, paving the way for resumption of discussions between the two parties under the Ministry of Labour, and after about four days of discussions an agreement to end the strike was clinched.

The GTU took industrial with effect from April 5, during the last school term, for improved salaries and working conditions for teachers.