NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, JUNE 9, 2024 14 By Melissa Beckford-Simpson & LaSonja Harrison BIRTH AND DEVELOPMENT TRADE UNIONISM in Jamaica and in the Caribbean in general predates independence. In fact, Caribbean scholars have long documented the unbroken connection between the involvement of the average West Indian in the establishment of a politics of our own, and unionism. Indeed, one could argue that the events of 1865 at Morant Bay were tantamount to unionism. It is no coincidence, then, that the earliest record of a trade union in Jamaica is that of the Jamaica Union of Teachers in 1894, not so long after Morant Bay. The era surrounding the riots of the 1930s across the Caribbean propelled the growth of unions representing workers of every class and description of work, not the least of which included varying categories of educators in Jamaica. Success for teacher unionism seemed to be far more plausible with unity, and in 1964 the powerful JamaicaTeachers’Association (JTA) was born out of the merger of five unions. Today, the JTA boasts a membership of over 20,000 teachers, making it the largest of its kind in the Caribbean and a formidable force for both teacher representation and professional development. On April 3, 1964, D.C. Gascoigne, the last President of the JUT made way for the first president of the Jamaica Teachers’Association, Wesley A. Powell. This move, single-handedly, paved the way for the Jamaica Teachers’ Association to become one of the most democratically functioning organisations in the Caribbean today. All decisions are determined by its membership owing to the fact that its highest decision-making body is the Annual Conference comprising delegates from the 78 District Associations spread across the country’s 14 parishes; hence 14 Parish Associations. Outside of the Annual Conference is the General Council, the JTA’s second highest decision-making body, followed by the Central Executive which comprises Parish Presidents, Chairmen of the Association’s 20 standing committees, and one ad hoc committee; trustees and paid representatives from the Secretariat. The political arm, captained by the Presidential core – PresidentElect, President and Immediate Past President, is ably supported by the Secretariat led by the Secretary General and those he supervises. The current three-tiered system is represented in the personages of President Leighton Johnson; President-Elect, Mark Smith; and Immediate Past President, LaSonja Harrison. The current Secretary General Dr Mark Nicely stands on the shoulders and legacy of the seven others who preceded him. The responsibility of the administrative arm of the Association is to execute the dayto-day business of the teachers. The membership of the Association must understand and exercise the authority granted to them through the Memorandum and Articles of Association to ensure that the political arm retains its function. The crafters in their wisdom ensured that while the arm that elects the President changes annually, final authority on fundamental matters remains firmly in the hands of the membership. It is imperative that the Union does not at any point lose sight of either the letter or the intent of the structure. The membership must continue to be the decision-makers; and the leaders, the servants. PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES The Union takes very seriously the Professional Development of its members hence there is a full slate of annual activities on the calendar. Programmes such as Education Conference, Helen Stills Professional Development Day, Investment and Retirement Seminars, Pre-service Forum as well as Contact Teacher Training are but a few held annually. Encouragement, they say, sweetens labour and so to honour those who serve the profession and the Association at varying levels, the following awards are conferred on the most deserving, usually selected through a rigorous process – Golden Torch Award; Roll of Honour Award; WBC Hawthorne Award; RC Tavares Award, Edith Dalton James Award; President’s Award; Elorine Walker Award; Fay E. Saunders Award. PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS • Education International in 1993 and the JTA remains a member. The Union’s Fay Saunders served as VicePresident and hosted the General assembly of this body in 1971 and Past President Nadine Molloy is a current Board member. • A fruitful partnership was forged with the Jamaica Diaspora Taskforce Action Network 2013-2014 which has convened eight (8) summits to date. • The Excellence in Stem Experiential Education (EXSEED) programme in partnership with Loma Linda University remains a hallmark achievement of the Association. • Regionally, the Jamaica Teachers’ Association maintains a strong bond with its Caribbean neighbours The development, achievements and trajectory of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association at 60 THE STATE OF THE UNION: JTA 60TH ANNIVERSARY FEATURE From left Secretary General Dr Mark Nicely; President Leighton Johnson; President Elect Mark Smith, and Immediate Past President LaSonja Harrison. Melissa Beckford-Simpson
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