JTA, Government to meet in wage negotiations next week
The Government and the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) are to meet next week Wednesday to start negotiations for a new wage agreement.
The negotiations come as a five-year wage freeze ends.
JTA president, Doran Dixon, says next week’s meeting should be the start a short process.
However, he has declined to outline the details of the union's wage claim submitted to the Government.
The JTA is one of the largest public sector unions and represents more than 20,000 teachers.
The Government says it is hoping to complete formal wage negotiations with public sector unions before April 1, when the 2015/2016 fiscal year begins.
Finance Minister, Dr Peter Phillips, says the Government will not seek a new wage freeze but he insists agreements will not threaten commitments under the programme with the International Monetary Fund.
