In the midst of its quarrel with the Government over pay increases, the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) is now embroiled in a dispute with its workers over what they say is long-outstanding payments.

The placard-bearing workers, dressed in black, picketed the JTA head office on Church Street in downtown Kingston on Monday expressing frustration which has been dragging for nine years.

Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) Vice-President Rudolph Thomas issued a news release on the dispute, saying that it arose from the JTA’s failure to provide details surrounding the calculation of incremental and seniority salary increases, spanning 2017 to present.

According to Thomas, several discrepancies have been noted and clarification sought.

“The situation has reportedly worsened based on management’s failure to conclude wage and fringe benefits negotiations for an expired period spanning 2024 t0 2026, and untenable delays in engaging with the union to implement a market realignment exercise which has effect from 2024,” Thomas said in the news release, noting that the BITU represents security, ancillary, accounting, and clerical staff.

He said the workers are “frustrated by management’s inaction which the union indicates breaches agreements between the parties and is tantamount to refusing to pay fair wages for work done by its members”.

Thomas also indicated the likelihood of the protest escalating “if the management fails to immediately meet and determine firm timelines to resolve these issues” as “several commitments given at the Ministry of Labour have been breached”.

Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) workers protest long-running pay issues outside JTA headquarters in downtown Kingston on Monday.