Wear black, stay alert! - JTA rallies teachers ahead of Tuesday's salary talks with gov't

Teachers across Jamaica have been asked to wear black on Monday and Tuesday as the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) meets with the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday to negotiate outstanding salary claims.

The JTA, in a statement issued Sunday, said the ministry has formally invited the association to a negotiation meeting at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, where outstanding elements of the JTA's list of claims are expected to be discussed.

The union said teachers are to wear black to register their "displeasure with the scant regard in which they are being treated".

The association acknowledged "deep frustration, exhaustion, and growing impatience" among its membership, saying the prolonged negotiation process has placed "an unfair burden" on teachers, testing their patience and "sense of worth and professional dignity."

JTA President Mark Malabver said the leadership stands firmly behind its members.

"We understand the sacrifices you continue to make daily, even in the face of uncertainty and delay," he said. "Let us be clear: this struggle is not merely about salaries, it is fundamentally a fight for social justice. It is about correcting longstanding inequities and ensuring that teachers are valued in a manner consistent with their indispensable role in national development".

The JTA said despite sustained efforts, "there has been no significant progress on these critical matters."

"Members are, however, urged to remain vigilant and maintain a state of high alert," the union said.

The JTA warned that if Tuesday's meeting fails to produce meaningful progress on key claims and the graduate allowance issue, "the matter will be placed squarely in the hands of the membership to determine the next course of action."

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