Dalley to intervene in JTA/education ministry dispute

Jovan Johnson, Gleaner Writer



Minister with responsibility for the Public Service, Horace Dalley, says he will be moving to bring the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) and the Education Ministry to the negotiating table regarding proposed changes to teacher entitlements. 



He says he will be responding to a letter from the association seeking clarity on the changes by Wednesday.



The JTA and the Education Ministry have been at a stand-off since education minister Ronald Thwaites announced in Parliament that study leave would be suspended, and changes would be made to the sick and vacation leave system because of unaffordability.



The JTA has suspended its monthly meetings with Thwaites to complete several parish consultations and has called for teachers to prepare for a revolution.



However, Dalley says the Government and the teachers are not at war, adding that the issues are not insurmountable and that a resumption of talks will have to take place to settle the dispute.



He has refused to comment on whether Thwaites overstepped when he spoke on the entitlements issue in Parliament.



Last week Information Minister, Senator Sandrea Falconer said the Cabinet would not intervene in the matter and that all efforts are being made to resolve the matter at the ministerial level. 



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