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By Prince Moore
There could be further disruptions in the school system as the Jamaica Teachers Association and the government remain on a collision course over the wage offer under the compensation review programme.
The island's teachers on Wednesday rejected the government's wage offer during a special delegates meeting of the Jamaica Teachers' Association at the Mico University College in St. Andrew.
Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke on Tuesday urged the teachers to accept the $12-billion pay package and allow for the parties to discuss outstanding issues.
But at the special conference, there was a split decision with 346 voting to reject and 227 of the delegates voting to accept the offer.
Speaking with TVJ News Editor Janella Precius after the vote, JTA President LaSonja Harrison said the disruptions in the public school system could increase as teachers "cannot guarantee normalcy in the sector".
Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke, who was a guest on TVJ's All Angles on Wednesday evening, expressed disappointment with the decision of the JTA delegates to reject the government's wage offer.
But he said the votes signal that there has been some progress, since more than 200 delegates voted to accept the offer in this round compared to the previous vote where just 24 had voted to accept.
Although disappointed that the teachers chose to reject the offer, Dr. Clarke said "we are in a country where we respect people's views, so the delegates of the JTA have expressed their views and it is what it is".
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