PNP Meeting | 'You deserve better than zero per cent,' Robinson tells teachers
Published:Sunday | August 17, 2025 | 12:03 AM
Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Julian Robinson, has told Jamaican teachers they "deserve better than zero per cent," a day after their union walked out of a wage negotiation with the Ministry of Finance.
Robinson was speaking at a People's National Party (PNP) meeting in Cross Roads, St Andrew, on Saturday night.
"The Government has said that they are offering zero per cent, zero per cent in the first year. Zero per cent is an insult to our public sector workers. We have looked at the budget and we know and we will do better for you, because you deserve better than zero per cent," Robinson stated.
The government initially offered the teachers a four-year deal with no salary increase in the first year and three years of 2.5 per cent for the following three years.
It was rejected by the teachers who insisted that they would not be signing a four-year deal.
The government removed one year and brought it to three, but maintained no increase in the first year, and 2.5 per cent for the other two years.
Robinson on Saturday night told the crowd of thousands that the workers unions and their representatives would have access to him and his ministry and would not have to walk out on him.
"The people's National Party will treat you with dignity and respect. You won't need to threaten strike action to get a meeting with me. You won't need to become restive, just to ensure that your voice can be heard," he stated.
The Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) has given the Government a deadline of midnight on Sunday to present a “substantially” improved salary offer.
It also indicated on Friday that “the association reserves the right to activate all its machinery to respond” if there is no improved wage offer by Sunday's deadline.
Finance Minister and the Public Service Fayval Williams has described as "disappointing" Friday's walkout of the negotiations by the JTA, stating that there has been meaningful progress on several items in the association's compensation claim.
- Erica Virtue
Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.