Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Ruel Reid (left), outgoing president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA), is in discussion with Professor Nigel Harris (centre), vice-chancellor of the University of the West Indies, and incoming JTA President Hopeton Henry before yesterday's start of the JTA's 42nd annual conference at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort, in Ocho Rios, St. Ann. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

OCHO RIOS, St. Ann:

Delegates at the 42nd annual conference of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) are expected to vote on a motion today which will decide whether the JTA remains a member of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU).

The JTA withdrew from the technical committee of the JCTU in March to negotiate for salary and fringe benefits for its more than 22,000 members. However, it remained a member of the umbrella organisation which represents public sector unions.

"Whereas there seems to be no tangible benefit to be derived from the JTA's membership in the Joint Confederation of Trade Unions, be it resolved that conference instructs the association to withdraw its member-ship in the Joint Confederation of Trade Unions," reads the resolution.

Speaking with reporters yesterday at the JTA's annual conference at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort, in St. Ann, newly installed JTA President Hopeton Henry said his association would be seeking to re-engage the leadership of the JCTU on different terms as it relates to the union's continued membership.

"Failing that, if we are at the point where our interests are not served, we would now have to examine the question of withdrawing and continue with pursuing the building of other alliances to further our interests," he said.

Strengthen bargaining

The aim of this new alliance which, Mr. Henry said, would include doctors and nurses, would be to strengthen the balance of power in bargaining with the Government.

"Can you imagine an expression of solidarity of all these groups and you have one day of shutdown of all these groups? The Government will have to listen," Mr. Henry said.

He added: "This current MoU was settled in indecent haste. It is really like a mercenary agreement where these persons just settled it and did not take into account the nuances and difficulty affecting each group. They were only concerned about their welfare."

If this resolution is passed, the JTA would be the second union to withdraw membership from the JCTU. The Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) pulled out of the umbrella group in March and has been negotiating for its members since.

Meanwhile, the JTA received a formal response on an improved benefit offer from government. Dr. Omar Davies, Minister of Finance and Planning, last week verbally agreed to give teachers an improved offer of a $30,000 per year book allowance. However, a member of the JTA told The Gleaner that the Finance Ministry said the Government could not afford the benefit.

The Gleaner understands that the Ministry of Finance has since offered the teachers $7,500 per year book allowance. This latest offer will be accepted or rejected by delegates at this afternoon's session, which will deal with salaries.

The Government had proposed a 14 per cent to 16 per cent increase in the first year for principals and vice-principals, with eight per cent in the second year. For teachers, the proposed rate was between 14 and 22 per cent in the first year and five to eight per cent in the second.

But an overwhelming number of JTA delegates rejected the offer at a special delegates' conference last month.