16 Jul 2007

Hopes that teachers strike in Solomon Islands can be resolved in talks tomorrow

7:04 pm on 16 July 2007

A nation-wide strike started today by Solomon Islands teachers could be over tomorrow if a government proposal over their grievances is accepted.

The six-thousand teachers are frustrated that the government is yet to implement the teachers Scheme of Service, re-leveling of the pay structure, and other provisions agreed to in January.

But the Solomon Islands Teachers Association's industrial relations officer Johnley Hatimoana says teachers representatives met the Minister of Education at the weekend.

Teachers had already voted to go on strike today but Mr Hatimoana says the Minister asked to be given until the end of August to implement most of the provisions.

He says the government has proposed involving union representatives in the process.

"We will be putting it to the teachers in our general meeting tomorrow here in Honiara. Then we will decide - if the majority of teachers are in favour of that because it's another way of involving union representatives in the whole exercise."

Johnley Hatimoana