New JTA president denies partisan politics affecting stance in wage talks

 

Newly installed president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA), Mark Malabver, has denied that partisan politics has influenced the stance of the association toward the current wage negotiations with the Ministry of Finance.

 

The JTA walked out of Friday's meeting to discuss a new contract for teachers after the ministry failed to make an improved offer from no increase in the first year and 2.5% increase for the other two years. 

 

The union also issued an ultimatum which has seemingly been ignored by the Ministry of Finance. 

 

There has been speculation that the newly installed JTA president's position on the negotiation is political posturing considering his previous declaration of a support for the People's National Party. 

 

Mr. Malabver had sought to represent the PNP in Western St. Thomas for the September 2020 general election. 

 

The party eventually selected another candidate. 

 

Mr. Malabver responded to the concerns Tuesday on the Morning Agenda on Power 106.

 

"I have not declared any support for any of the political parties. Let's get that out of the way.... The JTA consists of a diverse group of individuals across all constituencies, across all political parties and across all communities. When I step out as president, I step out to represent every single teacher - 25,000 teachers across the island. This has nothing to do with politics. This has to do with the livelihood of 25,000 teachers," Mr. Malabver insisted.

 

In the meantime, the JTA president has rejected Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness's commitment to public sector workers that he is prepared to make a credible and reasonable offer that will not damage the economy, should the Jamaica Labour Party be returned to power.

 

"Put an offer in writing to us. That's where we are. And I will go further.... When this country was tinkering on the edge of economic doom, the government of the day approached IMF. IMF indicated to the government that unless you have a wage freeze of the public sector, then we don't have a deal. The government came back to the teachers. We were the last one to sign that wage freeze because the government needed fiscal space. We did not create the economic problems. We did not create economic problems, but we were part of the solution to the economic problems. Now that the country is doing well, there's an economic boom, unemployment is on the decline, why is it that we can't get our fair share?" he questioned.

 

Dr. Holness has argued that the challenge faced by any government is how to increase the wage bill without increasing borrowing or creating a fiscal deficit.