JTA decides against signing new wage deal- Objects to Government's delay of final retroactive payments THE JAMAICA Teachers Association (JTA), has decided against signing the heads of agreement for new salary increases, planned for the Ministry of Finance and Planning on Monday. In a release yesterday, the JTA said that it was objecting to Government's decision to delay final payment of retroactive amounts until March, 2002. The Association wants all arrears to be paid up by the end of December, 2001. According to the JTA's release, there is agreement with the Ministry that the new 4 per cent salary increase will be implemented in July and that retroactivity for the period April to June, 2001 be paid by December. But, the Association is opposed to the Ministry's proposal to pay the additional retroactivity, for the period April 2000 to March 2001, in March, 2002. "The JTA's position is that the payment of the new salaries should begin in July, 2001, and all arrears paid no later than December 2001," the release said. Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Michael Peart, was not available for comment when The Gleaner contacted him yesterday. But, the Minister, Dr. Omar Davies, had indicated in pre-budget statements to the Standing Finance Committee of the House in February that any pay increases agreed to this year would have to be implemented on a phased basis.
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