Manchester High teachers demand 'liveable' wages

Classes continued as per usual at the Manchester High School, despite placard bearing teachers  declaring their dissatisfaction with proposed salary packages outside the school's gates this morning.

"We won't be disrupting classes today, we are just sending a message to the government to let them know that we the teachers of Manchester High school are not pleased with what they are getting," said contact teacher Shelly- Ann Bruce Reid. 

Reid declared that teachers deserve much more than they are being offered, and they will continue to reject the offers if they remain favourable. 

While classes at the institution were still held, schools such as Mandeville Primary and Winston Jones High had a number of students returning home as more than half of the teaching staff did not show. 

According to  reports, only five of the 48 teachers at the Winston Jones High School showed up. 

Principal of the Mandeville Primary School, Howard Salmon, said only 29 percent of the teachers were present this morning. 

He said however that students who showed up were still accommodated kline and face to face.

The government in December started the implementation of the public sector compensation review to overhaul the structure  of salaries in the public service. 

However, teachers believe that a greater percentage of the budget should priorities an  increase in salaries for them. 

Despite warnings that there may be delays in new wage offers as the 2023/2024 budget cannot accommodate their requests , teachers remain resolute in the decisions to lobby for more. 

- Tamara Bailey

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