Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

The Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) is to begin its parish mobilisation meetings with its members across the island today, to present the Government's latest offer on salary and fringe benefits for the contract period 2006-2008.

Hopeton Henry, JTA president said the meetings will end on Wednesday and by tomorrow his Association will get a sense of the mood of the teachers.

"Despite the start up of school, teachers are still in a militant mood," Mr. Henry told The Gleaner yesterday. He said following Wednesday's meeting his Association will discuss the way forward.

The JTA has been at odds with Government over salary and fringe benefits for several months.

Negotiating team

The association's negotiating team, has settled for a 14-16 per cent salary increase in the first year for principals and vice-principals, with a further eight per cent in year two.

First year teachers will receive a 14-22 per cent in year one of the new salary agreement and further 5-8 per cent in year two. Negotiations for fringe benefits for all classes of teacher have not yet been finalised.

The Government had offered the JTA a $20,000 book, resource and technology allowance in year one and $22,000 in year two. However, this was rejected by the association. The teachers want a $24,000 allowance in year two.

The Association had threatened industrial action, if the Government did not give the island's more than 22,000 teachers an improved offer.

And Mr. Henry said yesterday that he was not ruling out industrial action because the teachers deserve to be paid better.

The JTA boss said he has had informal discussions with the Ministry of Finance and Planning. He however, declined to comment on the content of the discussions.

"We are giving the Government time, but time will run out because there is a point beyond which we will not go," he said.

All meetings will be held at 2:30 p.m. on the following days and locations.

Monday

Kingston/St. Andrew -St. Lukes Church Hall Cross Roads

St. Mary - The Anglican Church Hall, Port Maria

Hanover - United Church Hall, Lucea

Clarendon- Methodist Church Hall, Sevens Road

Tuesday

Portland - Church of Christ Port Antonio

Trelawny - Nutshell Conference Centre, Clarke's Town

Westmoreland - United Church Hall, Savannah-La-Mar

St. Catherine - G.C Foster College, Spanish Town

Wednesday

St. Thomas - The Anglican Church Hall, Morant Bay

St. Ann - Brown's Town Baptist Church Hall

St. James - Cornwall College, Montego Bay

St. Elizabeth - Sharon Baptist Church, Santa Cruz