JTA Militant for a Livable Wage for Teachers

Press Release From The JTA, August 15, 2025

Dr. Mark Smith, JTA President.

The JTA is advising that having been invited to a meeting at the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service scheduled for Friday, August 15, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., no new offer was placed on the table and despite the urging of the JTA team, nothing new was forthcoming as the JTA sought to advance the wage negotiations with the Ministry on behalf of the nation’s teachers.

In light of the aforementioned, the JTA team has given the Ministry of Finance until midnight Sunday, August 17, 2025, to come up with a better offer, failing which the association reserves the right to activate all its machinery to respond.

The JTA wishes to indicate that the nation’s teachers deserve a more livable wage and a better response than what has been placed on the table for negotiations.  A zero per cent offer in any of the years is untenable.

The JTA demands that a new offer must be placed on the table ahead of the Annual Conference scheduled for August 18-20, 2025, at the Princess Grand Hotel, Hanover. 

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JTA Activities

• On Sunday, August 17, at 10 am, the JTA will be hosted at the Phillipio Baptist Church in Spanish Town for the Pre- pre-conference church service. 
• The JTA's 61st Annual Conference begins on Monday, August 18, and ends on August 20.  This will be at the Princess Grand Hotel, Green Island, Hanover. 
• Monday - August 18 at 10am - Opening of the conference
• Monday night - Proclamation of President-Elect and Installation of new President at 8 pm
• Tues - Aug 19 - regular day activities, and at 8 pm the Awards section

• Wednesday - Aug 20 at 8:30 am  -  Ministry of Education officials will attend, address the conference and field questions from members.

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