Bridgetown.
Members of the Barbados Secondary Teacher Union(BSTU), this morning refused to attend a meeting with a ministerial committe set up by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart to meet with all parties involved in the ongoing dispute at Alexandra School.
Minister of Education Ronald Jones has been assigned to chair the ministerial committe which includes Minister of Labour and Social Security Dr Esther Byer-Suckoo, Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite and Parliamentary Secretary in the Prime Minister Office Senator Harry Husbands.
The high level meeting was slated for 9.30 this morning at the Ministry of Education represenatives of the executive of the Barbados Association of Principals of Public Seconday Schools The National Union of Public Workers(NUPW) and principal of gthe Alexandra School Jeff Broomes were in attendance, Phil Perry, a retired teacher and a former president of the BSTU, enter the room stating he was sent by the union to record the deliberations. Perry was asked to leave the room.
"This is not the way industrial relations is conducted, this action shows how low the dispute has reach, it is a gross insult to the committe", an incensed Jones told the press.
He added it was unfortunate that one party constantly wanted to lay down conditions for negotiations .
