Teachers disappointed by delay in payment of annual increments

 

Discontent is building among public school teachers as the Minister of Finance has seemingly delayed the payment of annual increments, pushing it beyond the April pay cycle demanded by the Jamaica Teachers' Association.

 

Radio Jamaica News has learned that teachers across several institutions have been informed by their bursors that they will not receive the old benefit.

 

Anticipation returned to sour Wednesday morning when teachers were informed that the Ministry of Education has advised that the increment payments for staff will not be done in the month of April.

 

An internal memo received by Radio Jamaica News indicates that the JTA had been pushing for the payout to start this month.

 

During negotiations with the Finance Ministry, the JTA, through the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions, agreed that the effective date for the payments is April 1, 2025. 

 

The Ministry also acknowledged that the payments should be made within the first quarter. 

 

The Ministry has until June to begin the payments if it intends to remain compliant with the negotiated terms.

 

In an interview on the Morning Agenda on Power 106FM during the ongoing JTA Education Conference in Trelawny, JTA President Dr. Mark Smith explained that the Ministry has encountered some challenges.

 

"They have indicated that there are a lot of logistical concerns in terms of verifying the teachers that would be entitled to this because it's a clear guideline as to whether it's just three increments, two increments, one increment or no increments we would be entitled to. And so one understands the gravity of that. They have indicated that to us," he acknowledged. 

 

"But we continue to agitate that it be paid at the soon as possible time. But we also have been working to really get negotiations going. We haven't had a response to our claim that was submitted in November of 2024 and we look forward to continue the conversation," said the JTA president.  

 

The increments will be paid based on tenure and under the new compensation review exercise will be applied to eligible public sector workers. 

 

Teachers who spoke with Radio Jamaica News expressed frustration that the Ministry of Finance and Education did not fulfill the demands requested by the Association.

 

The teachers say they feel deceived as they were advised only two days before the April 25 pay day.

 

In February, the JTA threatened strike action to protest the slow pace of salary negotiations and the non-payment of graduate and retroactive travel allowance. 

 

According to Dr. Smith, the travel allowance was paid to the majority of teachers while some graduate allowances have also been paid.