HORACE DALLEY, Minister of Labour and Social Security, was unable yesterday to resolve two major industrial relations disputes which he conciliated at his Ministry, but some progress were reported from both meetings.
The Minister held talks with the Jamaica Teachers' Association and the ministries of Finance and Education on the teachers' pay issue and with representatives of Jamalco, the Bustamante Industrial Trades Union, and the National Workers' Union on the closure of the Jamalco mud lake expansion site.
In the case of the teachers' pay issue, The Gleaner understands that the JTA and the Government have agreed on seven of nine crucial items in the pay dispute. However, the two outstanding issues are of grave concern and still threaten the conciliatory talks.
The two outstanding issues are: the payment of a three per cent increase for the period April-September, 2002, which the teachers are demanding in addition to the 80 per cent of market pay formula; and the issue of graduates' allowance, which the JTA is seeking for teachers who have earned higher degrees.
Mr. Dalley said last night that he had asked the Ministry of Finance and Planning to have a second look at both issues and respond by next Wednesday.
The minister, a teacher before he went into politics, seemed to be supporting the introduction of the graduates' allowances. He told The Gleaner after the meeting, "When teachers improve themselves, it is to the benefit of the classrooms." Also, he appeared supportive of a suggestion from the JTA that the April-September, 2002 payment be made in a lump sum to the teachers.
Dr. Adolph Cameron, JTA secretary-general, said last night that there was "no significant movement" in the salary dispute, but conceded that there had been some positive results.
He explained that while a compromise had been reached on other issues, there remained an impasse with regard to the critical salary issue. "Discussions have been reasonably fruitful," he said, despite the lack of closure to the dispute.
The wage dispute led last month, to a strike by Government-paid teachers nationwide. After that action the Labour Ministry called the JTA to a conciliatory meeting at its North Street offices, central Kingston. The JTA was subsequently asked to continue negotiations at the local level with the Ministry of Finance.
Mr. Dalley's proposals to end the labour dispute which has led to the closure of the Jamalco mud lake expansion project at Halse Hall, Clarendon, came close to resolving the dispute yesterday, but fell short.
According to Vincent Morrison, NWU island supervisor, he had expected an agreement to be signed when "it seemed as if some unknown problem arose".
It could not be ascertained last night what caused the glitch.
