Williams says JTA's walkout on wage talks 'disappointing'

Finance Minister and the Public Service Fayval Williams has described as "disappointing" Friday's walkout of wage negotiations by the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA), stating that there has been meaningful progress on several items in the association's compensation claim.

"I note with much regret the pre-dated media release of August 14, 2025 shared by the Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA) today...While it is disappointing that the members of the JTA’s leadership choose not to continue the discussions at today’s meeting that they demanded, the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service (MoFPS) remains committed to the matter of Wage and Fringe Benefits negotiations," Williams said in a media release Friday evening.

She said of the many Items of Claims submitted by the JTA, there has been settlement of payment of advancement along salary bands and meaningful progress in the discussions around the treatment of extra hours worked, matters of uniform, continuing the broadband programme and revision and passage of the Pension Legislation to treat with premature retirement.

She said there are many items of an administrative nature included in the claim that are being addressed by the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information.

"I remain willing to continue the discussions in good faith, with the aim of arriving at an outcome that is sustainable, equitable and in the best interest of the nation," Williams said.

The negotiating team for the JTA walked out of the wage talks with Williams and her team after giving the Government a deadline of midnight on Sunday to present a “substantially” improved salary offer.

“We told the Minister and her team that they have until midnight, Sunday, August 17, to put a substantially improved offer on the table. Failing that, all options are on the table,” JTA president-elect Mark Malabver told The Gleaner.

Public sector teachers have been without a wage deal since March 31 this year, when the previous agreement expired.

A new wage pact was expected to take effect on April 1.

Negotiations for the new agreement began last November when the JTA submitted its proposal for a two-year agreement to the Ministry of Finance.

It reported that the ministry countered with a four-year offer of zero per cent in year one, and 2.5 per cent in each of the remaining years.

That offer was rejected.

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