IDT restrains teachers
Published:Sunday | May 9, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Philip Hamilton, Gleaner Writer
Over 500,000 students at government schools are expected to attend classes tomorrow morning following a restraining order issued yesterday by the Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT) requesting teachers to cease plans for two days of industrial action this week.
The IDT's ruling comes amid notice served by the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) to the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service on Friday advising that the JTA's central executive had instructed its members to withdraw their services tomorrow and Tuesday.
In a statement yesterday, the IDT ordered the teachers to withdraw their threatened industrial action with immediate effect, as well as restore and maintain normalcy.
Invited to meeting
The tribunal has invited the disputing parties to attend a meeting at the Ministry of Labour this Wednesday, May 12, at 10 a.m., to hold further discussions on the matter.
The JTA was absent from the meeting, which was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service.
While expressing disappointment at the JTA's absence during yesterday's meeting, Minister of Labour Pearnel Charles said he was pleased with the IDT's quick response in seeking to settle the impasse between the teachers and the Government.
Asked about the JTA's absence from the meeting, JTA President, Michael Stewart, told The Sunday Gleaner that the association, which had prior engagements, had not been properly informed about the meeting as it had not received anything in writing.
No comment
He said he could not comment on the IDT's ruling, as he had not received any official correspondence from the tribunal up to yesterday evening.
Several public-sector teachers took protest action last week Monday and Tuesday in an attempt to force the Government to pay them outstanding salaries.
On Friday, the JTA's central executive voted to take further strike action after rejecting the Government's latest offer of $1billion this year with the remaining $7 billion over the next three fiscal years.
The IDT's ruling was welcomed by the Ministry of Education, which said it would be to the benefit of over 500,000 students, particularly those sitting external examinations.