31 Oct 2006

Solomons teachers return to work tomorrow after two days of strike action

7:24 pm on 31 October 2006

Solomon Islands teachers return to work tomorrow after two days of strike action over pay and conditions.

An official with the Solomon Islands National Teachers Association, John Ley Hitimoana, says teachers voted this afternoon to end the action.

He says the government has agreed to pay the teachers according to the unified pay structure, starting from this week.

On Thursday they will receive a small pay rise with arrears to be paid next week.

The government has also agreed to discuss with teachers the implementation of a scheme of service which promises substantial lifts in pay and a clearly laid out career structure.

When sworn in earlier this year, the government said it backed the scheme but now says it does not yet have the money to meet commitments which would more than double the wages of most teachers.