5 Feb 2013

Solomons' teachers strike ends - back to school Tuesday

9:01 am on 5 February 2013

A teachers' strike in Solomon Islands is over and teachers have been called on to return to work this morning.

Around 9,000 teachers went on strike last week in protest at the failure of the government to meet pay commitments made last year.

The general secretary of the Solomon Islands National Teachers Association, Johnley Hatimoana, says agreement was reached in a meeting involving senior Government officials and the Trade Disputes Panel.

He says the teachers have got what they wanted but the government has asked that the payments be spread out over 3 pay periods to ensure its computers can cope.

"One on the 7th of February, the other one on the 21st of February, and the last payment for the arrears of 2012 on the 7th of March. That will be the final payment out of that 38 million [Solomon Islands] dollars."