Petrina Francis and Ross Sheil, Staff Reporters

Despite voting yesterday to reject Government's latest offer on salary and benefits, the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) has assured the public that the school year will start unaffected.

Following its General Council's meeting in Kingston yesterday, the teachers' body said in a statement that the Ministry of Finance and Planning had been given until September 11 to make a new offer and that in the meantime, its Action Committee would remain on "high alert."

"I would want to assure the country that we will have a smooth start to the school year and it gives us time to mobilise the action committee so I am hoping that the government will respond quickly," JTA President Hopeton Henry told The Sunday Gleaner yesterday.

Asked whether the JTA was backing down on its threat to strike if its benefits claim was not resolved, Mr. Henry replied that yesterday's decision was a "tactical shift."

"We're giving them a little breathing space," he said of the government. "We are exercising a high level of maturity and we are carrying it (negotiations) out in good faith."

Reacting to reports of the JTA's decision, Junior finance minister Fitz Jackson said: "The Government stands ready to sign a heads of agreement with the JTA on areas agreed on so far."

A source close to the negotiations said on Friday that Government had offered $20,000 in year one and $22,000 in year two but that the JTA is holding out for $24,000 in year two.