Give retired teachers a little more to face COVID-19

Western Bureau:

OWEN SPEID, the outspoken president of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association, is calling for an increase in pension allocations for retired and disabled teachers, who are among Jamaica’s most vulnerable citizens, as the nations put measures in place to cushion the impact of COVID-19.

In an interview with The Gleaner on Wednesday, Spied suggested that a successful negotiation concerning a salary increase for teachers should include a pension increase for the sector’s retired members.

“Every time the JTA negotiates and we get an increase for the in-service teachers, whatever percentage it is, the elderly should get an increase just the same. Right now they are the most vulnerable in all this crisis, and the disabled ones too, and I think society needs to take a special look and take care of them in whatever way we can,” said Speid.

“What we’re getting from our retired teachers is that they’re being treated badly. They are going to the post office to collect their pension, but the pension is not coming in on time, and that’s a serious thing because they have their medications to buy and prescriptions to fill,” Speid added. “Elderly persons have been operating on a fixed income for many years (through the pension) and now they are really exposed,” added Spied.

COVID GUIDELINES

With Jamaica recording 26 infections and one death from COVID-19 to date, the Government has issued several guidelines to prevent further spread of the respiratory virus. These include restrictions of public gatherings to no more than 10 people in one space, and that persons over 75 years old should stay home.

Speid also said that the JTA’s members are looking forward to getting a five per cent salary increase in a timely manner during the month of April.

“The teachers are expecting that, come April, they will get that five per cent increase on their salaries, and I hope that is not going to be late at all, because we are due that increase. It was late in January and February, and they (education officials) have to make sure they do the calculations for that increase and get it right,” said Speid.