Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) vice-president Davanand Sinanan said teachers will "rest and relax" on Thursday and Friday.

Sinanan, in a telephone interview yesterday, said teachers were frustrated by the two and a half-year wait to complete the external labour market survey and would take the two days to reflect on the outstanding issue.

"Just as we made the promise on Friday, that is what we are going to do. Nothing has changed," Sinanan said.

The external market survey, Sinanan said, is 80 per cent complete.

"It is now a question of applying that data," he said, adding that even after two and half years, that process has not begun.

Sinanan said teachers have not had an increase in salary since October 2007 and the union has another meeting with the chief personnel officer to continue working on the external labour market survey on Friday.

"We are hoping that by that time good sense will prevail," he said.

After the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) march last Friday, de facto leader Oilfields Workers' Trade Union president general Ancel Roget promised solidarity with TTUTA.

In a brief telephone interview yesterday, Roget said the JTUM would be meeting today to discuss "the nature" of that solidarity, but said they were all supporting the stand taken by TTUTA.

Minister of Education Dr Tim Gopeesingh yesterday distanced himself from the unsettled negotiations and the subsequent strike action by teachers. An unsigned release from the Ministry of Education said: "This matter does not fall under his portfolio as Minister of Education and in fact falls under the purview of the ministries of Public Administration (Caroline Seepersad-Bachan), Labour (Errol McLeod), Finance (Larry Howai) and the chief personnel officer (Stephanie Lewis).

"However, in the interest of the teachers who are directly affected by these wage negotiations, Dr Gopeesingh has today consulted with Mrs Seepersad-Bachan on the matter and he has been advised by the Minister of Public Administration that in-house discussions of TTUTA with the chief personnel officer have been taking place and negotiations are continuing, with a meeting of TTUTA and the CPO scheduled for Friday September 14."

The release said Gopeesingh was further advised by Seepersad-Bachan that the first three phases of the labour market study have been completed and the discussions between the CPO and TTUTA were now at the negotiating stage for 2011 salaries.

"Dr Gopeesingh also wishes to reiterate that he is confident that while these negotiations are ongoing, the nation's teachers will continue to show dedication and commitment to the pupils who fall under their charge, and he trusts that they will always ensure that the welfare of the children and education sector remains their priority," the release said.

Several attempts to reach the CPO proved futile. Even though messages were left for the communications department, up to press time there was no response.