TEACHERS will be wearing black today and Tuesday to register their displeasure with the scant regard in which they are being treated, the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) said Sunday.

The JTA cited the educators’ “deep frustration, exhaustion, and growing impatience”, as it said it recognises that the prolonged negotiation process has placed an unfair burden on members, “testing not only their patience, but also their sense of worth and professional dignity”.

“The JTA remains resolute. This is a just cause, and we will pursue it with unwavering commitment,” the lobby said in a statement.

President Mark Malabver said the association stands firmly with teachers, and understands the sacrifices they continue to make daily, even in the face of uncertainty and delay.

“Let us be clear: this struggle is not merely about salaries, it is fundamentally a fight for social justice. It is about correcting longstanding inequities and ensuring that teachers are valued in a manner consistent with their indispensable role in national development,” he said.

The JTA said the Ministry of Finance has formally invited the association to a negotiation meeting scheduled for Tuesday, and this meeting represents a critical opportunity to advance discussions on the outstanding elements of its list of claims, including the unresolved graduate allowance matter and other key issues affecting the welfare and compensation of members.

“However, we must be candid: to date, there has been no significant progress on these critical matters despite the JTA’s sustained efforts to move the process forward,” the association said.

“In light of this, the JTA is appealing to its members to exercise a little more patience and to allow Tuesday’s engagement the space it requires. This appeal is made with full awareness of the prevailing mood across the profession.”

Members are, however, urged to remain vigilant and maintain a state of high alert.

“Let it be made unequivocally clear, if there is no meaningful progress, particularly on the key points within the JTA’s list of claims and the graduate allowance issue arising from Tuesday’s meeting, the matter will be placed squarely in the hands of the membership to determine the next course of action,” the JTA said.

“Members are encouraged to listen for updates following the outcome of the negotiation meeting.”