NEGRIL, Westmoreland — An executive from the second-largest teachers’ labour union in America has launched a scathing broadside against the Jamaican Government for what he described as its failure to keep promises made at the bargaining table. He also warned Jamaican teachers who may be eyeing jobs in the US that the American education system has its own share of problems and they should look for jobs here in Jamaica.

Speaking at the first day of the JTA’s annual conference in Negril on Monday Fedrick Ingram, secretary-treasurer of the 1.7-million member American Federation of Teachers (AFT), did not hold back.

“Today I want to declare that the AFT is in solidarity with the JTA in your desire to have the Government live up to its promise and meet its obligations to support teachers in this country. You all deserve more! …The memorandum of understanding which was modified in your latest collective bargaining agreement is still a long way from becoming reality,” Ingram said.

“I came here as a fighter on the same battlefront where you are. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the JTA and with students, families, and communities in Jamaica that are rising up to fight for fully funded public education and to have educators that are justly and rightly compensated,” he added before demanding action from the Government.

He insisted that teachers deserve to be paid overdue salaries and benefits for their years of dedicated service.

The AFT executive was delivering the keynote address on the first of the three-day conference being held at Royalton Negril Resorts and Spa. It is being held under the theme, ‘Advancing the Vision — reigniting the passion through equitable and inclusive educational opportunities’.

Outgoing JTA President La Sonja Harrison told reporters that teachers are still awaiting responses to letters written to the Ministry of Finance and Public Service and the Ministry of Labour, asking them to address anomalies.

“The teachers of this nation are due the professional courtesy and the response of the Government — and we are wondering if the best and the brightest are not needed to be retained in Jamaican classrooms. We are still awaiting the Government’s response to the teachers of this nation,” she said.

Ingram noted that it appears Jamaican and America teachers share similar battles.

“We have watched from abroad and we find it very disturbing that some politicians have chosen to undermine public education rather than adequately invest in schools and kids’ learning,” he said.

“It looks to us to be a transparent attempt to undercut the teachers’ union and undermine the rights of workers. Sadly, my friends, much of what is happening here is happening at home as well. Simply put, education is under attack globally, all over this world so you are not alone in this fight,” he added.

He told his audience that the “basic principles of diversity and inclusion are being undermined in classrooms across the United States of America”.

“They are making classrooms so political, so toxic that teachers are leaving in droves. Now you may have heard that it’s all good in America but let me tell you something, we’ve got a fair share of problems in America, so those who are studying to become educators in my country are now second-guessing their careers for something with less stress and more pay,” he cautioned.

He also warned Jamaican teachers that working in America may not be their best option.

“In the midst of a teaching shortage, find your purpose. Find your purpose in this beautiful country, find your purpose in the schools of your homeland. Sometimes I have to remind people that everything’s not greener on the other side. I’m very proud of my country but know what it is to go to America today in our public schools. Be forewarned, it’s not easy. It is not easy, and so I want to remind you to find your purpose,” he said.

“They’re slashing budgets, underpaying and demonising teachers, all in service to one idea — to kill public education in order to privatise it,” he said.