1. Introduction
Welcome to another meeting of the Central Executive for the new conference year. I hope that none of you or your family has been affected by the heavy rains that have passed across the island and the flooding that went with them in some areas. The office has received reports of some teachers in the South Central and West Regions who have lost property as a result of the floods. We regret the suffering they have had to undergo. The Association has assisted, though in a small way, some teachers who have sought assistance.

It has now become a cliché to say that the country, and indeed the Association face challenging times ahead. We are relieved that the general elections passed without the expected violence and intimidation and from all reports, overall it was a free and fair elections. The composition of the lower House should allow for a better approach to policy development if the parliamentarians take their role as servants of the people seriously. It is, however, up to us as individuals and as a powerful professional organization to play our role within civil society to ensure that the government delivers on its promises made during the pre-election period. We must hold them accountable.

We will know today who will be the Minister of Education when the Prime Minister names his Cabinet. In the office, we are preparing a document which outlines what the Association sees as the priorities in education at this time. The document will be circulated to members for comments before it is presented to the new Minister.

Once again, two young children have lost their lives under tragic circumstances. We extend deep sympathies to the families of the two children . This has brought the total deaths on our roads to over 800 since the beginning of the year. May I encourage all of us to exhibit extreme caution as we use the roads.

I wish to end this section of my report by reminding us that this month is Breast Cancer Month and to encourage all of us to do what is necessary to keep ourselves alive. It reported that Jamaicans are among the persons with the highest incidence of breast cancer and among those with the highest death rate.

The Cancer Society maintains that early detection is the surest way to prevent death from this disease.

2. Salary Negotiations

2.1 Negotiations for the 2002 - 2004 Contract Period
The following has taken place since the beginning of October 2002:
(a) JTA received an offer on new salaries and benefits on October 7, 2002
(b) JTA rejected the offer and issued an ultimatum to Government to present a realistic offer by October 11, 2002.
(c) JTA was called to a meeting with the Minister of Finance and Planning on October 14, 2002 but a new offer was not presented. The JTA's team indicated its grave disappointment to the Minister.
(d) The Minister told the team that given the impending general elections, no offer could be given to the Association until the new political directorate was in place.

There has therefore been no progress in the negotiations at this point. Indications are that a Minister should be named by the Prime Minister today. We hope that the negotiations will begin early November.

It is very evident that the negotiations will prove very challenging. This Executive meeting needs to consider the matter and give some directions to the President and the Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee.

2.2 HEART Trust/ Negotiations
The JTA's team received on Tuesday, October 22, 2002 the final offer from the HEART Trust/NTA for salaries and benefits for Instructors. The offer has been circulated to the HEART institutions to be examined by the Instructors. A meeting with Instructors has been scheduled for November 8 at which time a decision will be taken on whether to accept or reject the offer.

2.3 Third Quartile Relationships
The third quartile relationships between salaries of teachers and those in the rest of the public service was established in 1995 with the understanding that were the relationship to be breached in the future because of movement of salaries in the public sector, the relationship would be restored. This was brought to the attention of the Government in the JTA's Claim in 1998/2000 and brought back as an unfinished item in 2000/2002 Claim.

It was agreed in the signed 2000/2002 Heads of Agreement that the matter would be settled by March 2002. This did not happen.

It is the JTA's position that this assessment must be done and where it is found that the relationship was breached, adjustment to teachers' salaries should be retroactive to that date.

The second issue that is on the table though related to the third quartile is to be considered separate and treated as such. This relates to the agreement to move the salaries of civil servants to 80% of Market.

The Government has committed itself to maintaining the relationship between teachers and civil servants and has agreed to an exercise to realignment the positions in teaching with those in the rest of the public sector. This exercise is to be completed by March 2003. The Government has also agreed that were this exercise to result in adjustment to teachers' salaries that these benefits would be retroactive to October 1, 2002.

A Steering Committee with five representatives from the JTA, six from the Ministry of Finance and Planning and two from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture is to be established to deal with the realignment. I am recommending that the Executive approves the following persons as the representatives of the JTA:

Byron Farquharson - Chairman, Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee
Adolph Cameron - Secretary General
Millicent Buylding - Senior Secretary Teachers' and Schools Services
Eric Downie - Trustee
Dorothy Raymond - Senior Secretary Administration and Communication

3. New Pensions Provisions
The Governor General has signed the Bill which give effect to the new provisions. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture has been so informed by the Ministry of Finance and Planning. Those teachers whose pensions were calculated under the old system will benefit from the recalculation of the benefits. A document reflecting calculations based on the new provisions has been circulated to schools.

This means that teachers who retired beginning June 1996 will benefit from the new provisions.

4. JTA/Berger Paints Roll of Honour Award
The JTA/Berger Paints Roll of Honour Award presentation ceremony will take place on November 26, 2002 at the Hilton Kingston Hotel beginning at 7:30 p.m. Members of Central Executive will receive invitations to attend.

5. Lasco Salute to Teachers
The parish awards in the Lasco Awards programme will be presented to recipients at a ceremony to be held on October 29, 2002 at 11:00 a.m. at the Ruins, Ocho Rios, St. Ann. One person from each parish is expected to receive the parish award. The Lasco Teacher of the Year will be selected from among these recipients.

6. Computer Training Programme
One hundred and twenty-four persons are enrolled in the new courses which started in September.

The official opening of the lab in Port Maria had to be postponed because of the rains. A new date has not yet been decided.

Participants who successfully completed the courses offered in 2001/2002 were presented with their certificates at a function on October 23, 2002.

7. Allocation from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture
The Association has received from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture an allocation of $5M to assist with the computer training programme. The Minister of Education had announced this allocation at the JTA conference in August 2002. How the funds will be utilized has not yet been determined.

8. Contact Teacher Seminars
Three of the four regional Contact Teacher Seminars have been held. These were for the North East, South Central and West regions. The attendance at the sessions was above that of last year.

The Secretary Administration will present a report on the seminars at the meeting of General Council in November.

9. New Teacher Seminars
These are in progress. Seminars have so far been held in Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Ann, St. James and St. Elizabeth. It appears that the attendance at these seminars will again be high.

10. Meeting with the Minister of Education, Youth and Culture
One meeting has been held and the following matters were addressed:

10.1 District Model of School Government
The meeting to discuss the JTA's Position Paper has not been held. It would appear that the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture is in no hurry to have the meeting with the Association. In the meantime, the plans for the piloting of the two district boards are being put into place. A letter to this effect will be sent to the Minister.

10.2 Shift Allowance for Principals in Community Colleges
This matter has not been settled though it was raised at the Ministry over a year ago. At the last September meeting the matter was raised and it was decided that a survey of how the Community Colleges were compensating principals for extra hours worked was to be undertaken. This, however, was not done. We hope that a report will be available at the meeting in November.

10.3 Increase in Janitorial Grant
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture reported to the Association that discussion was taking place between the Ministry and Unions representing the category of staff with respect to the increased payment. She has also indicated that a survey is being conducted to collect relevant data. The questionnaire has been sent to schools.

10.4 Remuneration for Honours Degrees from United States Universities
The Ministry has now agreed that the effective date for the payment of teachers who receive honours degrees from American Universities will be September 2000. Teachers who qualify should contact the Ministry's Regional Offices or the JTA. The payment is equivalent to three increments in the Trained Graduate scale.

11. JTA Strategic Plan
Work on the plan has begun by the Consultant. A draft customer perception survey questionnaire has been presented and adjustments suggested by the Administrative Staff have been done. The instrument will be distributed to a sample JTA member for completion. A working meeting with the Consultant has been set for October 30 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

12. CUT Activities
12.1 John Thompson Attachment
Mrs. Ruth Brown recently returned to the island after participating in the John Thompson attachment at the British Columbia Teachers' Association, and the Canadian Teachers' Federation. She will present a full report for consideration at the next CUT Executive meeting.

12.2 CUT Executive Meeting
The CUT Executive Committee will meet on November 30 and December 1, 2002 in St. Kitts.

12.3 Meeting with Ministers for Latin America and the Caribbean, Havana, Cuba
The CUT has been invited by UNESCO to attend the next meeting of Ministers of Education for Latin America and the Caribbean to be held in Havana, Cuba, November 14 - 16, 2002. The CUT has been accorded Observer status at regional meetings which have to with education.

12.4 Death of Mr. Alain Chantry, Chief Administrative Co-ordinator of the EI Secretariat
The CUT and the JTA sent messages of condolence to the General Secretary of EI on the death of Mr. Alain Chantry, Chief Administrative Co-ordinator in the EI Secretariat. Mr. Chantry died in a motor vehicle accident in Brussells on Saturday, October 5, 2002.

13. Call for Volunteer Teachers
The Department of Correctional Services has written to the JTA requesting volunteer teachers for their literacy programme in the prisons. Members who are interested or those who know persons who would be interested can speak with myself or the President.

14. Study Tour to Mexico
Past President Spencer-Jarrett participated in a study tour to Mexico from September 22 to 30, 2002 to look at how absenteeism is managed in that jurisdiction. The tour was organized by the Ministry of Education as part of its quality assurance programme.

A report has been laid on the table.

15. The Secretariat
The Clerical, Accounting, Ancillary and Security staffs have agreed to accept the offer on salaries and benefits for the 2002-2004 contract period. The representatives of the group have signed the Heads of Agreement and payment of the new rates was done for October. The staffs have agreed to accept the retroactive payments on or before pay-day in January 2003 provided the Association's cash flow can accommodate the payments

Prepared by: Adolph Cameron