JAMAICA-Teachers reject latest government offer.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) on Tuesday said its members voted against accepting the government’s latest wage offer.

In a brief statement, newly sworn-in JTA president LaSonja Harrison said a formal notification will be sent to the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, indicating the outcome and requesting the earliest possible date to continue negotiations.

The vote was taken at the ongoing JTA 62nd annual conference, with 213 votes cast: 155 against and 54 in favor. Four votes were rejected.

Before the start of the three-day conference, the JTA said its members were expected to decide on the latest “improved offer,” including government salary increases.

The conference is being held under the theme “Reformation Now: Rebuilding a Resilient Education System Buoyed by the Eternal Father & Unrelenting Unionism”.

Former JTA president Mark Malabver, speaking ahead of the conference, acknowledged that the parties have made progress in the negotiations, adding that there are still some concerns from the JTA’s perspective regarding one key item on our list of claims.

“Once we receive that new offer, we certainly will interrogate the new offer. We will also be taking that offer to the annual conference, which will be held on Monday through to Wednesday,” he added.