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The Government's announcement of a wage freeze is not going down well with public sector teachers, who are warning that there could be disruption in the classroom, when the summer term begins in two weeks.
The Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) is stepping up its bid to get the Government to pay over money which it says is owed to members for three years.
In addition some members are opposed to salaries being frozen along with other Government-paid employees.
Members of the JTA Executive in Clarendon discussed the matter Tuesday during their monthly meeting at the May Pen Primary School.
The meeting was attended by the President-Elect of the JTA, Michael Stewart.
The members insisted that they were not prepared to take a wage freeze and will not accept Government bonds in lieu of payment.
Speaking with RJR News following the meeting Mr. Stewart said he hoped good sense will prevail on the part of the Government.
However, he said the JTA cannot guarantee normality during the next school term if there is no positive word from the administration.
"We would want good sense to prevail. We would not want to think of any disruption of the education system at this time because we are on a path of growth,"
"But to say that if the teachers are not appeased, there is no guarantee of normality in the system. We don't know what will transpire when schools open on the 20th," said Mr. Stewart.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding last weekend confirmed that public sector workers would have to forgo a salary increase this financial year due to Budgetary constraints.
The administration is insisting that it cannot afford the $38 billion increase in the wage bill.
The Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) is stepping up its bid to get the Government to pay over money which it says is owed to members for three years.
In addition some members are opposed to salaries being frozen along with other Government-paid employees.
Members of the JTA Executive in Clarendon discussed the matter Tuesday during their monthly meeting at the May Pen Primary School.
The meeting was attended by the President-Elect of the JTA, Michael Stewart.
The members insisted that they were not prepared to take a wage freeze and will not accept Government bonds in lieu of payment.
Speaking with RJR News following the meeting Mr. Stewart said he hoped good sense will prevail on the part of the Government.
However, he said the JTA cannot guarantee normality during the next school term if there is no positive word from the administration.
"We would want good sense to prevail. We would not want to think of any disruption of the education system at this time because we are on a path of growth,"
"But to say that if the teachers are not appeased, there is no guarantee of normality in the system. We don't know what will transpire when schools open on the 20th," said Mr. Stewart.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding last weekend confirmed that public sector workers would have to forgo a salary increase this financial year due to Budgetary constraints.
The administration is insisting that it cannot afford the $38 billion increase in the wage bill.
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