Minister of Education, Andrew Holness, will be facing hostile teachers on the third day of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) conference today at the Sunset Jamaica Grande hotel in Ocho Rios, St Ann.

Yesterday's second day was rife with calls for industrial action as word spread of the Government's latest payment proposal for $8 million in retroactive money owed for the period April 2007 to March 2008.

The teachers have mandated their union to send a strong message to Government, pointing out their frustration with the situation.

The Government is now proposing to pay the outstanding sum in three tranches, beginning April 2010, followed by payments in April 2011 and April 2012.

The letters

The proposal, sent by letter to the JTA on August 14, was followed by another letter on August 17, which only promised to review the proposed schedule of payment next April.

Delegates responded by calling for a lockdown of the system, beginning in the new school year on September 7.

Chairman of the salaries and conditions of service committee, Byron Farquharson, presented the letters to the delegates, who vented their anger and frustration with the government's position.

According to one delegate, JTA past president Hopeton Henry, the time for diplomatic niceties had come to an end and under no circumstances should the opening of school in September be smooth.

"I think the time for diplomatic niceties has come to an end. From the outset the Government has never negotiated in good faith. We had negotiations via the media, dem jus dash it pon we without warning. The atmosphere and the whole communication process have been poisoned by disrespect for the teachers and throughout the period it was just attack, attack, attack and battering," Henry charged, to deafening applause from the delegates.

Several other delegates on the floor supported Henry's call, and called on the leadership of the JTA to put pressure on the Government by implementing industrial action.

One delegate, Lawrence Dyer, said he felt insulted by the stance taken by the Government while another past president, Wentworth Gabbidon, was of the opinion that the Government had no intention of paying the teachers and supported Henry's stance.