Teachers unhappy with 7 per cent wage offer, to vote on June 20

With more than half of its islandwide consultations completed, President of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), Doran Dixon says his members are rejecting the government’s latest wage offer.

The government has revised its initial five per cent wage offer to public sector workers over two years and is now offering seven per cent - four per cent in year one and three per cent in year two.

Despite the overwhelming dissatisfaction with the government’s offer, Dixon says the JTA will continue to meet with teachers in the remaining parishes before a decision is made on the seven percent offer.

Dixon says the remaining consultations will be held over the next few days and a special conference will be held on June 20 to vote on the offer.

In the meantime, Dixon says the JTA will continue to press the government until it receives the best deal possible for teachers.

The JTA president also said he is not perturbed by previous pronouncements about the government’s inability to make a better offer.