Teachers to sign wage freeze agreement today

The Gleaner/Power 106 News understands that the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) which represents public sector educators will today sign a wage agreement with the Government for the 2012-2014 contract period.

The signing is scheduled to take place at the Finance Ministry.

On Friday, the JTA indicated that it had accepted the government’s proposal for a wage freeze until 2015.

Contacted last night the President of the JTA, Clayton Hall, would only say the deal could be signed today.

However, our sources say the signing will take place this morning at the National Heroes Circle-based Finance Ministry.

The JTA has said its acceptance of the wage freeze is purely in the national interest.

The government is pressing to get agreement on wage restraint from all public sector workers as it seeks to reach a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for an extended fund facility.

The board of the IMF is expected to consider Jamaica’s Letter of Intent later this month.

The Jamaica Civil Service Association and the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions have already signed the wage restraint agreement with the government.

However, the teachers, nurses and police personnel are among those yet to sign.

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