WESTERN BUREAU:
TEACHERS IN western Jamaica resumed normal duties on Monday as directed by the Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA) but have warned that anything is possible, pending the outcome of tomorrow's meeting at the Ministry of Labour on their wage and fringe benefits dispute.
Both the Ministry of Education and the Western Regional Office of the JTA confirmed reports that normality had prevailed in the public education system in the west on Monday.
"Although teachers are still restive, to the best of our knowledge there was no industrial action at the schools. There was a strong turn-out of both teachers and students," Evelyn Tugwell, Western Regional Officer for the JTA told The Gleaner.
However, teachers in St. James and Hanover are warning the government that frustration levels are running high.
Gerald Lawrence, President of the St. James Chapter of the JTA, is insisting that "the teachers are at the end of their tether and are not willing to exercise much patience with government at this time."
"Even before the JTA leadership cautioned teachers not to go on strike before Thursday's meeting, St. James teachers had decided that they would not be taking action this week. However, it is becoming harder and harder to tell the teachers to hold sway," Mr. Lawrence conceded.
Cautioning the authorities of the delay in settling the dispute, the JTA St. James Chapter President said the government has set a wrong precedence by taking a high salary increase and yet expect them to be satisfied with a small amount.
Painting a similar picture in Hanover, Jim Dawes, President of the JTA Chapter in that parish, the restive mood among teachers was likely to remain until the government makes an improved offer.
