JAMAICA-Teachers await the government’s latest wage proposal.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Jamaican teachers were on Wednesday awaiting the promised “update on the things you want to know about” as Education Minister Dr.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Aug 20, CMC – Jamaican teachers were on Wednesday awaiting the promised “update on the things you want to know about” as Education Minister Dr. Dana Morris-Dixon sought to reassure them of her government’s determination to reach an amicable solution to their labour problems.

Earlier this week, the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) warned that teachers were prepared to take industrial action if the government did not provide new wage offers.

JTA president, Mark Malabver, addressing the JTA’s 61st Annual Conference, said that the offer made by the Andrew Holness government for the country’s 25,000 teachers was not accepted at the latest round of negotiations.

“It is the height of disrespect for the government to have offered us zero per cent in year one and 2.5 per cent in each subsequent year. We boldly reject this proposal, and somebody needs to tell ‘Auntie Faye’ that zero per cent cannot buy a Probox,” Malabver told the JTA delegates.

But as she “briefly” addressed the JTA’s awards ceremony on Tuesday night, Morris-Dixon said that she would be bringing favourable news to the educators during her scheduled keynote address on Wednesday.

“I see what you are doing, I see the hard work, I see it every time I go into a school, and I know it is not easy. I will continue to be your advocate, as asked by the president (Mark Malabver) last night, to stand with you, and I will stand with you and I will always be standing with you, because I know that Jamaica would not be where we are without you,” said Morris-Dixon.

She told the ceremony on Tuesday night that she would not be long, promising that on Wednesday, “I will tell you some things you want to hear, and I will give you an update on the things you want to know about, including the big one”.

Last week, the JTA warned that the government had until midnight, Sunday, August 17, to put a substantially improved offer on the table. Failing that, all options are on the table.”