KINGSTON, Jamaica — The rift between the Government and the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) over wages continues with the association insisting that the wage talks must improve at the start of 2018.

In the latest statement on the matter, JTA president, Georgia Waugh Richards said the teachers feel disrespected after being “unofficially informed” that the meeting scheduled for this morning with the Ministry of Finance to continue the negation was postponed.

Waugh Richards, in an audio statement issued this afternoon, said the “unofficial communication has caused us to feel disrespected, to say the least, and therefore, come January morning the story has got to change”.

JTA communications officer, Leaon Nash informed OBSERVER ONLINE that the meeting had been called off via telephone from sources within the ministry yesterday. He said a reason for the cancellation was not given but the association was told that a written letter would follow. However, Nash said the association is yet to receive that letter.

“The teachers at this time, to say they are livid would be an underestimation. We are not at all pleased with the process or even with how the negations are being handled. It is therefore important that at this time the Government recognises that things cannot remain the same.”

The president said the teachers are expecting that the business of their wage negotiations will be handled with much more respect and much more seriousness.

The JTA has rejected the Government’s offer of six per cent increase over two years.