KINGSTON, Jamaica, Aug 18, CMC – The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) Tuesday said that its members had voted against accepting the latest wage offer by the government.
In a brief statement, the newly sworn in JTA president, LaSonja Harrison, said a formal notification will be sent to the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, indicating the outcome and requesting the earliest possible date to continue the negotiations.
The vote was taken at the ongoing JTA 62nd annual conference with 213 votes being cast, 155 voted against and 54 in favour. Four votes were rejected.
Prior to the start of the three day conference, the JTA had indicated that its members were expected to give a decision regarding the latest “improved offer” including salary increases from the government.
The conference is being held under the theme “Reformation Now: Rebuilding a Resilient Education System Buoyed by the Eternal Father & Unrelenting Unionism”.
Former JTA president, Mark Malabver, speaking ahead of the conference acknowledged that the parties have made progress in the negotiations adding there are still some concerns from the JTA’s perspective, ”with respect to one key item on our list of claims.
“Once we receive that new offer, we certainly will interrogate the new offer. We will also be taking that offer to the annual conference, which will be held on Monday through to Wednesday,” he added.
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