TEACHERS IN the island's public school system should return to classes today, ending their two-day strike for an improved pay offer from the Government.
The teachers' action closed down basic, primary and secondary schools across the island for the two days but has not brought the parties any closer to resolving the dispute.
The matter has been referred to the Ministry of Labour and a meeting is being planned for tomorrow to start conciliatory efforts at a settlement. However, there is a fear that the teachers could take further action if the Government does not make an offer acceptable to the Jamaica Teachers Association's (JTA) negotiating team.
JTA representatives were locked in a meeting which ended just after seven last night, discussing their next move, Secretary General Dr. Adolph Cameron said last night.
He said that the meeting presented some recommendations which would be forwarded to JTA members during this week.
President of the JTA, Sadie Comrie, confirmed last night that the Association has received a correspondence from the Ministry of Labour, requesting that they attend a meeting on Thursday morning.
"We are studying the implications of the letter and we will be responding to the Ministry," she said.
On the success of the strike, Mrs. Comrie said, "We got the teachers to understand their situation and they responded to the call. In fact, they are the ones who made the call for some sort of protest action because of the current situation."
