Gov't moves to avert teacher strike

Monday, May 03, 2010

THE Ministry of Finance has referred the dispute concerning retroactive salaries for Government-paid teachers to the labour ministry, in a last-ditch effort to avert today's planned strike action by the more than 23,000 instructors.

In a statement last night, Finance Minister Audley Shaw said he had written to Labour Minister Pearnel Charles explaining that the teachers had rejected the ministry's offer "for settlement of $1billion for this year and a revised timetable for the balance outstanding in subsequent fiscal years".

"The offer was rejected and the JTA (Jamaica Teachers' Association) has since called a two-day strike. The matter must therefore now be brought within the formal framework appointed by law to resolve such disputes," Shaw said last night.

"The Government continues to be hopeful that good sense will prevail and that the children of Jamaica will not lose out on their education," he added.

The teachers, who are owed $4 billion in retroactive salaries, last week announced a plan to stay off the job today and tomorrow in protest.

Efforts to contact JTA President Michael Stewart and president-elect Nadine Molloy were unsuccessful last night as calls to their cellular phones went unanswered.

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COMMENTS (7)

Candice Gordon
5/9/2010

I am a student and i say that the strike is irrelevant and i am 12 years old! Why are some adults too blind to see that it is not helping anybody, not us, not them nobody. I heard that there will be another strike on May 10 & 11 and i need confirmation as school i s not very close and i dont want to go and be sent back or not go and miss school so please confirm or denie these statements.

charles masters
5/3/2010

JAMAICA! WE are misguided and we are not focused on the facts. We need a committed and dedicated task force of Teachers,educators & psychologists to bring our children out of this moral decay and lack of proper tuition. These teachers that we are paying are a part of the monster factory that is producing illiterates, thieves, whores and gunmen. There is no real interest or dedication to our children, who by the way, will be the ones running these very same teachers lives in a few years. We need a serious taskkforce to dedicate at least 15 years to the total redevelopment of our youth. We need to put a ban first on all this nasty music, that our children are being fed with daily, we need to change their values and attitudes.We need a TOTAL RESURRECTION of the educational system. Other countries have done it, Singapore,China etc. Why are we paying more money to produce more illiterates. WE NEED A TOTAL REVAMP. The same way they can rally for more money they MUST rally for a CHANGE!!

Delroy Austin
5/3/2010

The noble profession has gone to the dogs. Teachers on the street protesting? N o not when I was going to school.What will be the next move?. This tells me that the Island is in trouble . There are also people in high places who feel this action is right.Trouble on the land.

Droula Don
5/3/2010

I am sorry that students will miss out on school especially during this time when exams are around the corner. Hopefully the Govt and Teachers reach an agreement soon.

Brad Kerr
5/3/2010

This is sad when students are held hostage to a government that is stacked with trade unionist, yet they are still dimissive of the bargaining process. I am not in agreement with the teachers leaving the class room but this government must understand it needs to sit and talk with the unions. They are entrenched in the Jamaican society and trying to pretend as if they are not there will only cause more problems. The JLP as a party in the election campaign made promisses they would not have been able to keep with or without the recession. The Government must now see, they are the employers and the the role is reversed. Pernel Charles, Dwight Nelson and Rudy Spencer to name a few must tell them their approach is wrong. Confontation will get you nowhere as theunions will only call a work stoppage. Who suffers? The students and their parents who want's an education for their children. If govt dont negotiate then how can the teachers make concessions. Please the children desverve better.

Jamaican by Blood
5/3/2010

Is there a way to put a wage freeze on politicians? Are they holding any strain? They still drive around in their expensive vehicles, have lush parties and functions, and their children and family are not bothered by lack of finances or resources. They get paid for whatever work they do (or don't do) and then some. They keep their financial obligations and promises to themselves. Have you ever heard the government cutting their salary by half or quarter? Not just one and few, all politicians paid by the sweat blood and tears of hard working Jamaicans. Enlighten me. How does the little that "government" paid workers get compare to the salary and benefits politicians get? We are paying them to make questionable decisions and reckless judgments, that place us in more trouble than would risk for ourselves and families and friends, and students. When all is said and done and the ship is sinking, they are in an airplane to another country. An airplane they can afford to fly in. Arrogance!!!!

Hope Alive
5/3/2010

The rhetoric being used will not quell the situation. The teachers and the Govt have agreed on a settlement. This was unilaterally broken by the Government. There is therefore need to sit and talk without the acrimonious language.

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