Teachers to vote on deal

Delegates of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) are to vote on a wage deal offered by government at a special conference next week Saturday.



The Gleaner/Power 106 news understands that the JTA has prevailed in its demand to have the salaries of public school teachers increased to 80 per cent of those of their counterparts in the private sector.



They also got most of the items in the claim that was submitted to the Government.



JTA President Doran Dixon was wary of making any disclosure, but said he felt the offer made by the government was one the association could ask the delegates to vote on.



Dixon says a meeting would also be held tomorrow with the JTA’s salaries and conditions of service committee.



Following a meeting between the government and the association yesterday, it was revealed that the government would make the payments in instalments.



The payments are reportedly to begin in December and continue until June 2009.



Last week, the Government said it could not afford to increase teachers’ pay to 80 per cent of their private-sector counterparts, but the JTA threatened to disrupt schools.



Dixon has claimed the realignment exercise will cost the Government about $10 billion more in salaries and allowances, but the Government has said it will cost $15 billion.