THE WAGE dispute between government and the nation's public school teachers is now back with the Ministry of Finance.
Horace Dalley, Minister of Labour and Social Security, after yesterday's conciliatory meeting at his ministry, referred the issue back to the Ministry of Finance and Planning.
"We had our discussions and in the end the minister has referred us back to the local level," Sadie Comrie, the Jamaica Teachers' Association president, told The Gleaner last night.
The meeting was attended by the JTA's negotiating team and representatives of the Ministry of Finance and Planning. Mr. Dalley chaired it.
When asked what the JTA expected to happen from here on, Mrs. Comrie reiterated what she said was the association's unrelenting desire to have its demands met. "We placed on the table our dissatisfaction and, as well, what we are expecting. So I would hope that when we put the issues forward, in good sense, they will be addressed."
Mrs. Comrie refused, however, to shed any light on what further action may be taken if the government maintains its stance on the salary issue.
"When we get to that bridge we will cross it," she said.
For two days last week, teachers boycotted classrooms nationwide in protest against government's wage offer for the 2002-2004 contract period. The JTA was subsequently summoned to the meeting with the Labour Minister.
The teachers are upset with the government's offer of a six per cent salary increase over two years, in response to their request for a 30 per cent increase in each of the two years.
