NAGRAT calls off Strike

...Court has declared strike illegal
Accra, Nov 8, GNA - The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) on Wednesday communicated the ruling of the Accra Fast Track High Court that declared their strike illegal and therefore ordered them to return to the classroom.

A terse statement signed by Mr Marjore Affenyi, Publicity and Organising Secretary of NAGRAT, said:

"The Accra High Court (Fast Track Division) has ruled that the strike action by teachers is illegal and should be called off. The court by its ruling has ordered all NAGRAT members to return to the classroom. We are by this release communicating the ruling of the court to members."

Mr Kwami Alorvi, President of NAGRAT, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that they were obeying the court.

"We are obeying the ruling of the court," he said. "We have filed an appeal against the ruling, but the date has not been fixed as yet. That is why we are taking this action."

NAGRAT embarked on a crippling strike action on September 1 that has kept them away from the classrooms and put the future of students, especially SSS 3 students who would be writing their examinations in May/June next year, at risk.

Several efforts by various groups to end the strike failed and some members of the rival teachers union, Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) also joined the strike.

Some regional branches of NAGRAT have called off the strike and asked members to resume teaching.

The strike action was to back demands on the government to review salaries of workers, especially those of teachers.

The graduate teachers also asked the Controller and Accountant General to stop the use of Auto Code that effects deductions from teachers' salaries and a replacement of the Acting Director of the GES, Mr Michael Nsowah, whose compulsory retirement was due last year. They further asked the government to implement all outstanding grievances on which Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) had been signed, including invigilation allowances for Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE).

They also called for a meeting between the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the GES to discuss invigilation fees. Other issues included the implementation of adjustment in salaries and ranks of Assistant Director and above, meaningful responsibility allowances to be put in place by the GES and its Council for all teachers and payment of arrears for teachers recruited in the 2003/2004 academic year.

An Accra Fast Track Court on October 31 ordered the striking members of NAGRAT to call off their strike to return to the classroom. The court ruled that the President of the NAGRAT, Mr Kwami Alorvi, the vice president and all regional officers of the Association should return to the classrooms and teach according to their conscience. The ruling followed an application filed by the National L9abour Commission (NLC) praying the court to order members of NAGRAT to call off their strike action.

The court, presided over by Mr Richard Asamoah, said NAGRAT should use proper means to achieve its objectives.

"The court will not give room to lawlessness in the country," it ruled.

The Court also asked NAGRAT "to teach according to the laws and their conscience".

The NLC filed a suit on October 11 seeking, among other things, an order under Section 172 of Act 651 of the Labour Act, to compel the leadership in particular, and members of NAGRAT in general, to comply with the Commission's order directing them to call off the illegal strike.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah, the Minister of Education, Science and Sports, on Tuesday commended the graduate and other professional teachers on efforts to educate the future manpower and leadership of the country. However, he told Parliament, "We do not believe the reasons adduced by the current leadership of NAGRAT, whether at the regional level or national level to call for a strike action instead of a dialogue is the best in the interest of our mother land."

He said negotiations on the new salary levels for teachers were underway and would be considered within the general context of the comprehensive Public Sector Pay Reform.