Public school teachers meet to decide on gov't wage offer

Public school teachers are meeting at this hour to decide whether to accept the government’s latest wage offer.

The teachers, who are represented by the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), have been offered a 16 per cent wage increase over four years.

It provides a five per cent increase in year one, two per cent in year two, four per cent in year three and five per cent in year four.

The offer was made after the teachers rejected two offers that would increase their salaries by six per cent over two years.

The JTA says over 300 delegates are attending today’s meeting, which is being held at Wolmer’s High School for Boys in central Kingston.

The union says details of the government’s latest wage offer will be outlined to delegates before they cast their votes on whether to accept it.

The Jamaica Civil Service Association and other unions that represent public sector employees have already accepted similar wage offers.