Jamaica Teachers’ Association gets better wage offer

The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) says it has received an improved wage offer from the government.

However, JTA president Doran Dixon has declined to give details on the new offer.

Dixon says the JTA is waiting for a written offer from the Ministry of Finance outlining the new proposal before commenting.

He says the new wage offer is expected to be presented to the JTA today.

The JTA has been pressing the government for a higher offer than the five per cent presented so far.

The association has submitted a wage claim requesting a 25 per cent increase, with 15 per cent in year one and 10 per cent in year two.

However, the government has maintained that five per cent is its best offer.

In recent weeks, some teachers across the island have been staging sit-ins, holding street protests and wearing black to work to register their frustration and disappointment with the wage negotiations.