WITH a weekend to go before the start of the new school year, state-paid teachers and the government remained at odds over a new salary package, raising fears that Monday’s start to classes could be rocky.

The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), which represents the 20,000 public school teachers, has called members of its General Council to an emergency meeting this morning, essentially to decide whether to accept or reject’s government’s latest offer.

Yesterday, JTA negotiators came stone-faced out of a meeting with representatives of the finance ministry, after extensive talks again failed to clinch a deal.

“We have not had any new offer as the position of the government remains the same as of last night (Thursday night),” said Hopeton Henry, for whom the negotiation has been a baptism of fire as his first official duty since taking over the presidency of the JTA.

Henry said the association was expecting to receive this latest offer in writing to take to today’s meeting for a decision to be taken.

Last night, only one item stood between the government and the teachers reaching an agreement which would prevent a strike that could keep most schools closed Monday.

The teachers are holding out for an increase in government’s offer of $22,000 for a Resource and Technology Allowance, a delay which teachers warned could collapse the entire negotiations.

Henry declined to say what level of increase the association was holding out for, but said that it was less than the $4,000 quoted by a government official who spoke with the Observer on Thursday night.

“If it is $4,000 that is holding that up then the only question I would ask is why then don’t they settle?” he questioned.

“It is really a disgusting thing what is happening,” he commented.

Junior Finance Minister Fitz Jackson, while not saying whether the government had made its final offer, insisted: “What I have put (forward) is for a settlement.”

Jackson said he was hopeful that the offer would be accepted when the JTA General Council met.

“I am hopeful that good judgment and reason will prevail and that there will be an appreciation for the sincere effort of government in the substantial adjustment it has made to its previous offer,” he said.

He, however, declined to comment on details of the latest offer made.

But Henry said he could not predict what the outcome of the meeting would be, adding that the teachers were still on strike alert.

“But whatever is discussed and decided I think the concerns that will be foremost in the mind of the teachers is the interest of education,” he said.

He told the Observer that he could also not say what would happen come Monday morning, although the teachers wanted to see a smooth opening of schools.

Henry stressed that the lines of communication would remain open for the government to make a better offer.

“The lines are still open and at this time I wouldn’t want to hear anything that is more negative than what I am hearing now,” he said.

The teachers’ 24-point claim include a proposal for all salaries to be adjusted to reflect a 30 per cent increase in year one and 25 per cent in year 2; 20 per cent to 50 per cent increase in shift allowance; full upkeep/commuted travel allowance to be paid with salaries monthly, and a 100 per cent increase in transportation allowance for teachers with positions of special responsibility.

They are also seeking an increase in vocational duty allowance, protective clothing allowance, remote inducement, special allowance and post of special responsibility allowance.

Further, the teachers want all schools to be provided with nurses, at least one guidance counsellor and with clerical assistants.