Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Henry ... Teachers need clarification on offer.

The Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) yesterday reneged on its threat to take industrial action this week if the Government did not present teachers with an acceptable offer.

Instead, the JTA has called parish mobilisation meetings with its members across the island beginning next Monday, to present the Government's latest offer on salary and fringe benefits for the contract period 2006-2008.

This decision was taken yesterday at a meeting with presidents and administrative staff of the association at the JTA's Church Street head office in downtown Kingston.

Feedback

Hopeton Henry, president of the JTA, said feedback from the regional offices had revealed that teachers needed more clarification on the matter of salary and fringe benefits. To this end, he said the teachers union would be explaining the offer to the island's more than 22,000 tutors.

"It is not a retreat because the mood of militancy has not ended, but we need to give clarification to those who need it," said Henry.

Meetings

The JTA boss noted that the series of meetings will last for two days and a decision on the way forward will be taken afterwards.

He told The Gleaner that he received a letter from the Finance Ministry yesterday but the offer was not improved.

The JTA has been at odds with Government over salary and fringe benefits for several months.

While the association has now settled for a 14 per cent to 16 per cent salary increase in the first year for principals and vice-principals, with eight per cent in the second year; and 14 to 22 per cent in the first year for teachers, and five to eight per cent in the second, it is still negotiating fringe benefits.

The Government had offered the teachers a $20,000 book, resource and technology allowance in year one and $22,000 in year two. However, this was rejected by the JTA. The association is demanding a $24,000 allowance in the second year.