F. Williams, State Min. Finance Says No To Teachers …

“Go to the Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT)” -Helen Davis-White, president of Umbrella Union.

The retroactive payment (s) to Teachers is between J$30 to J$60,000.  Helen Davis-White said “the government should not force the teachers to take up the back payment. This would be a breach of ILO and the industrial relations bargaining practice. Let them take the risk of losing this payment”

Back To Table …

Late item of news, the IDT has summoned the JTA and MOF to a meeting today at 2PM. The IDT can order the teachers back to work.

Wage To GDP

Jamaica is close to honouring the IMF agreed 9 percent wage to GDP ratio. “We are actual at 9.2 percent … just .2 percent off. The benefits for electronic devices requested by the teachers, if implemented would cost the government 4+ Billion Jamaican dollars.

Other Units

Other bargaining units in the Public Sector would have to get similar benefits. They have already signed off on the 16 percent offer for over 4 years. This would expand the wage bill and throw us off track. No way!  This is not going to be allowed to happen. Asserts Hon. Fayval
Williams.

Williams was speaking in an interview monitored by Vision Newspaper.

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is Senior International Correspondent & Photojournalist for Vision Newspaper Canada.