RIED
PRESIDENT OF the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA), Ruel Reid, is urging the Government to reconsider its decision not to pay half the tuition fees for teachers whose children are pursuing studies at tertiary institutions.
This was one of the 22-point salary and fringe benefits claim that the JTA had submitted to the Ministry of Finance but which was rejected.
"This is a matter that the Government should agree on. Failing that, we are going to have a difficulty signing off on the salary agreement," Mr. Reid told The Gleaner Wednesday.
The JTA and the Government have been in a battle over wages for teachers for several months. The island's more than 20,000 teachers were among some 88,000 public sector workers who were constrained by a two-year wage freeze following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government and the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) in February 2004.
The MoU ended in March and the Government and the JCTU signed a second MoU last month. However, the JTA was among at least three unions that did not sign.
The Government offered teachers a 14-22 per cent increase in salary. But, the JTA is still not satisfied with the offer and will be meeting with the Ministry of Finance next week for further negotiations.
Meanwhile, Mr. Reid said Government should provide concessionary loans at the Students' Loan Bureau (SLB) for teachers. According to him, teachers and their children are unable to benefit because they do not meet the criteria set by the bureau.
The JTA boss said teachers work in the education sector and it is only natural that they should benefit from the different services provided by that sector.
