DESC's door "always open" to teaching unions

Department keen for constructive talks over pay dispute

The Island's education department insists its "door is always open" to the teaching unions involved in the ongoing pay dispute.

Union representatives recently received a letter from Department of Education, Sport and Culture chief executive Ronald Barr, stating it would be within its rights to deduct pay from those taking industrial action.

A statement from the DESC insists there are currently no plans to withhold pay, but the department reserves the right to keep this under review.

It adds that it's looking forward to constructive talks, but has been waiting since December to finalise a date to meet with the three unions involved.