Newly installed President of the Jamaica Teacher’s Association, Doran Dixon says the group will be holding the government to its word that it will not ask teachers to agree to another wage freeze.
The JTA was among several public sector unions which signed off on a wage restraint agreement with the government last year.
That Heads of Agreement for the 2012/2015 contract period, was signed as a precondition to Jamaica’s finalization of a four year Extended Fund Facility agreement with the IMF.
The controversial Doran Dixon was last night installed as the 50th president of the JTA for the 2014/2015 conference year.
Mr. Dixon says the teachers made the ultimate sacrifice last year when they agreed to another wage freeze.
A reduction of the country’s wage bill as a percentage of GDP, was one of the preconditions the government had to meet before the IMF could rubber stamp a new economic programme for the country.
But addressing his members in St. James last night, Mr. Dixon, says the days of frozen wages will soon be over.
Mr. Dixon says the JTA will be holding the Education Minister Ronald Thwaites to his word that their sacrifice will not go unrewarded.
Mr. Dixon says the cost of living is far too high for teachers to show further restraint in the next contract period.
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