Teachers reach their limit...
August 19, 2009
Minister of Education, Andrew Holness, will be facing hostile teachers on the third day of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) conference today at the Sunset Jamaica Grande hotel in Ocho Rios, St Ann.
Yesterday's second day was rife with calls for industrial action as word spread of the Government's latest payment proposal for $8 million in retroactive money owed for the period April 2007 to March 2008.
The teachers have mandated their union to send a strong message to Government, pointing out their frustration with the situation.
The Government is now proposing to pay the outstanding sum in three tranches, beginning April 2010, followed by payments
in April 2011 and April 2012.
The letters
The proposal, sent by letter to the JTA on August 14, was followed by another letter on August 17, which only promised to review the proposed schedule of payment next April.
Delegates responded by calling for a lockdown of the system, beginning in the new school year on September 7.
Chairman of the salaries and conditions of service committee, Byron Farquharson, presented the letters to the delegates, who vented their anger and frustration with the government's position....
Author: Carl Gilchrist
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
