The Jamaica Teachers’ Association hereby signals its utmost displeasure with the following three matters:
- Non-payment of Graduate Allowance,
- Non-payment of retroactive mileage allowance, April to November 2022 &
- The pace of Salary negotiations 2025 – 2028.
Non-Payment of Graduate Allowance
The MOU for Salaries 2022 – 2025 indicated that the Graduate Allowance would be paid as at April 1, 2024 and be paid at a rate of one increment for the Masters and one increment for the Doctorate and paid between the 5th and 6th points on the applicable scale. We find objectionable and not in good faith the removal of this allowance by the Ministry of Education. We ask for an immediate and absolute return to the agreed payment to the teaching service with immediate effect.
Non-payment of Retroactive mileage Allowance April to November 2022
The MOF agreed to pay mileage to Travelling officers at a rate of $100 per kilometer with effect from April 1, 2022. This agreement required a retroactive amount for the period April 1, 2022 to November 30, 2022. The MOF indicated that the funds for this payment would be included in the last supplementary estimates for the 2024 – 2025 fiscal year. This was passed in the House of Representatives on October 15, 2024. We lament the nonpayment of these funds with one pay-period left in this financial year. We demand this payment with immediate effect.
The pace of Salary Negotiations 2025-2028
The Jamaica Teachers’ Association in keeping with the agreement between the Government of Jamaica and the Joint Confederation of Trade Unions adjusted our claim cycle to submit our claim for the period by November 30, 2024 to facilitate the conclusion of the negotiations by March 31, 2025. This timeline would see teachers receive the increments which were unilaterally withheld during the 2022- 2025 contract period. We have to date been called to one meeting on January 28, 2025 to clarify the claim submitted. With March commencing later this week we have reached the end of our patience.
We hereby indicate that we will not accept any attempts to renege on the payment of the annual increments in accordance with the dates specified in the agreement due to the fact that we believe that the MOF has orchestrated the running out of the time by their non-engagement of the negotiation process.
The Jamaica Teachers’ Association stands ready to negotiate this claim and eagerly await a call from the MOF to treat with these very important matters.
Leaon Nash – JP
Administrative Officer
Communications & PR
Tel: 876-874-8162
Email- [email protected]