JTA concerned about plans to pay teachers rejected wage offer

The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) says its concerned that the government is planning to pay the proposed increase for year one of the 2017-2019 contract period this month although public school educators have rejected the offer.

The JTA says it has been informed of the decision by the Ministry of Finance.

But the association says it does not support any such payment plan.

According to the JTA this move is unprecedented in light of the fact that the current salary negotiation has not been concluded nor a Heads of Agreement signed.

The JTA says if this should happen, it would view the action of the Finance Ministry as being tantamount to union busting and a breach of Collective Bargaining Rights.

The Government has made two offers to teachers, both of which have been rejected.

Option One
Year 1 - 6 per cent
Year 2 - 0 per cent
Year 3 - 5 per cent
Year 4 - 5 per cent

Option Two
Year 1 - 5 per cent
Year 2 - 2 per cent
Year 3 - 4 per cent
Year 4 - 5 per cent

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