THE BARBADOS UNION of Teachers (BUT) is inviting all its members to a meeting on Thursday to talk salaries.

General Secretary Herbert Gittens told the DAILY NATION yesterday in a telephone interview that the union's executive would present proposals to the members and welcome their views and concerns "as theunion prepares for the upcoming salary negotiation with the Government of Barbados".

The union would then report to the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados, the umbrella body for trade unions.

"We think that the sliding scale is what we would want to see happen in terms of an increase for those at the bottom of the scale instead of everybody getting the same percentage," Gittens added.

The BUT is asking for a hike in members' salaries against a backdrop of the rising cost of living.

Untrained teachers are paid a monthly salary of between $1 879.32 and $1 748.62, while trained teachers make between$2 831.96 and $4 163.29.

Graduate teachers' salaries range between$3 381.71 and $4 979.74 and their untrained colleagues receive between $3 381.71 and $4 274. 94.

The meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m.at the BUT Headquarters, "Merryhill", Welches,St Michael. (DS)