The Volta Region branch of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has served notice that they are solidly behind calls by the National leadership to embark on a strike action should government not respond favorably to their demands.
The Volta Regional Chairman of the Association, Felix Tordeytse said although they had initially decided to begin their strike last Wednesday, but have extended it to next week Wednesday, October 7, 2015.
Mr Tordeytse who spoke to DAILY GUIDE in an interview noted that the decision to extend the deadline is to give government (employer) the final opportunity to respond to their demands, since government has for a long time refused to return to the negotiation table. He said they are protesting two years’ salary arrears and allowances as well as absence of a collective bargaining agreement.
This latest protest by the NAGRAT in the Volta Region follows a similar strike threat by NAGRAT members in Greater Accra issued two days earlier.
According to NAGRAT, government has frozen the payment of annual incremental credits to teachers after the implementation of the Single Spine Pay Policy in 2010.
The association also laments that government has not paid a chunk of newly recruited teachers since November 2014. They also expressed worry over the lackadaisical posture of the National Labour Commission whom they claimed was not taking actions to compel government to pay teachers their due salaries.
Addressing a press conference in Ho earlier, the Volta Regional Secretary of NAGRAT, Kenneth Adevu complained that transfer grants, transport and traveling allowances which are required to facilitate relocation of teachers on transfer have not been forth coming, due to reasons unknown to the association.
He also stressed the need for a renegotiating of a Collective Bargaining Agreement which outlines the working relationship and responsibilities between teachers and their employers.
Mr. Adevu explained that the last Collective Bargaining Agreement between GoG and the Teachers’ Unions expired in December 2011 hence the need for a new one.
A nationwide strike would most likely affect academic work as Senior High Schools across the country admit students for the 2015/2016 academic year.
From Fred Duodu, Ho (freduoo@gmail.com)