Finance Ministry blasts JTA’s April payment claim for increments as 'incredulous'

The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service has described as “incredulous” a claim by the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) that increment payments were scheduled for April, saying that no such timeline was agreed.

The response came Thursday after a memo dated April 23 from JTA Secretary General Dr Mark Nicely told members that the ministry had indicated payments would be made during the first quarter (April - June) of the 2025-26 financial year.

“Given that commitment, the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service finds it incredulous that the leadership of the Jamaica Teachers Association should at the same time indicate to its membership an April timeline for payment that was not agreed, especially given the need for costings to be determined to inform payments,” the ministry said in a statement.

It added, “The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service reiterates its commitment to the payment of increments negotiated through the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions.”

Nicely’s memo referenced the ministry’s commitment to a first-quarter payment but said the union "has been unwavering in its advocacy for the increments to be disbursed in April".

“We made strong representation on your behalf and engaged directly with key stakeholders at the ministry to push for an early disbursement,” Nicely said. “Despite our proactive efforts, the payment has not yet been made. We acknowledge the disappointment this may bring, and we want to assure you that our advocacy continues with urgency and determination.”

Earlier this month, JTA President Dr Mark Smith declared that the deal for the payment of the increments was a “massive win”. “There was an agreement reached that the increment would be paid effective the end of April, so there’ll be three increments for the three years dating back to 2022,” he said.

He added, "We made it absolutely clear that that was non-negotiable and in the spirit of fairness and transparency, the ministry acquiesced to our request, along with that of the Joint Confederation of Trade Unions,” he added.

In February, the JTA threatened strike action to protest the slow pace of salary negotiations and the non-payment of graduate and retroactive travel allowance.

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