Teachers vote overwhelmingly to return La Sonja Harrison to JTA presidency

Principal La Sonja Harrison has secured a decisive win in the 2025 Jamaica Teachers' Association presidential election, returning amid her lawsuit against the union and concerns over wage talks and teacher regulation.

In the count following last week’s voting exercise, Harrison garnered 6,651 votes, more than twice the tally of her closest rival, Jermaine Williams, who received 2,771. Dr Maureen Mullings-Nelson polled 1,883 votes, the group announced Tuesday.

There were 305 rejected ballots from the total of 11,610 votes cast.

The result means Harrison, who served as JTA President from 2022 to 2023, will return to the leadership track of the powerful teachers' union. She will be formally declared president-elect at the JTA’s Annual Conference in August and assume her second one-year presidential term in August 2026.

Harrison is currently the principal of St Faiths Primary School in St Catherine. Williams is a senior teacher at Manning's School in Westmoreland and Mullings-Nelson is Practicum Placement Officer at The Mico University College.

Harrison's victory comes amid an ongoing legal challenge she has brought against the JTA regarding its acceptance of the 2022-2025 government wage offer. Harrison's entrance in the race triggered concerns among some teachers.

At the presidential debate held on June 13, Harrison defended her decision, saying the issue was about upholding the constitution of the association.

“They’re matters of principle. They’re matters of correcting whatever breach that we find to have happened in our organisation... There is no financial gain or personal gain in seeking to correct a constitutional breach or what is perceived to be so,” she said in response to a question.

Williams pressed her on whether she would abandon the case if elected. Harrison responded, “The matter before the court is the matter before the courts. And we're seeking a response from an independent arbiter.”

The lawsuit centres on a virtual special delegates’ conference in March 2023 at which the JTA voted to accept a three-year wage offer from the Government. Harrison contends the virtual vote was unconstitutional, arguing that only in-person voting is permitted under Section 14 of the JTA constitution.

Harrison also stoked controversy after leaving the room before the deal was signed with the Government. Then president-elect Leighton Johnson signed on behalf of the union.

During her campaign, Harrison proposed several initiatives and advocacy aimed at improving the professional and personal well-being of teachers, including expanded wage negotiations, mental health support, housing benefits, and reforms to teacher appraisal systems. Her platform also included enhancing engagement with church-based ministries.

Harrison, who is an intercessor and Sunday School Superintendent at Freedom Come Ministries International in Portmore, has pledged to strengthen partnerships with churches and Christian groups to provide spiritual support within the school community.

She is also advocating for the inclusion of a national day of prayer in the Ministry of Education’s school calendar each term, as well as a National Back-to-School Church Service at the start of each academic year.

Harrison will join a new executive lineup that will include current President-Elect Mark Malabver, principal of Yallahs High School in St Thomas, who is slated to assume the presidency in August. Outgoing president Dr Mark Smith will then serve as the immediate past president.

"The teachers have spoken," Malabver told The Gleaner. "The teachers continue to repose confidence in her. As the incoming president, I wish to welcome her back to the presidential corps, knowing fully what lies ahead. Her support at this time, as I prepare myself to lead the organisation, is timely."

The JTA represents more than 20,000 educators across the island and plays a key role in education policy advocacy and wage negotiations. A new wage agreement and the Jamaica Teaching Council bill, which proposes a licensing regime for teachers, are among the big items dominating discussion between the union and teachers.

"The JTA will oppose legislation that seeks to oppress our members," she said of the JTC bill in August 2022.

The stance appears to have remained as during the June debate, as Harrison criticised the composition of the proposed council to head the JTC. "The 19,000, 20,000-plus teachers of this nation must arise. Nothing for the teachers of this nation without the teachers involved. A 31-member committee cannot have 15 members licensed and registered and 16 not licensed and registered. The teachers' voice must be in majority," she said.

She also argued that performance-based pay for teachers cannot be implemented without investment in key areas of the sector, including infrastructure.

"Until we treat with all of those issues, establishing minimum standards in schools, then I do not believe we're at the point to talk about pay by performance," Harrison said.

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