Ashanti NAGRAT supports strike action

Kumasi, Oct. 3, GNA -- The Ashanti regional branch of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has re-affirmed its resolve to continue with the indefinite strike action until the authorities addressed their concerns.

The Association has also appealed to members nationwide not to yield to any form of threat or intimidation by heads of their schools to return to the classroom.

At a meeting with the national executives of the Association in Kumasi on Monday, the Ashanti caucus pledged its unflinching support to the leadership and the action to stay out of the classroom. Addressing them, Mr Kwame Alorvi, national president of the Association, reiterated that there is provision in the Labour Act that says only workers' unions with large membership should be given bargaining certificate.

He said the Association had given the Chief Labour officer a one-month ultimatum to give NAGRAT its bargaining certificate else, it would go to the Supreme Court for interpretation of the law.

Mr Alorvi said the strike action was not for only graduate teachers, but all teachers and wondered why some officials were trying to incite other teacher unions against NAGRAT.

He said NAGRAT had no grudge with any other teacher organisation in the country and that it was rather Ghana Education Service officials, who were trying to cause confusion in the teachers' front.

Mr Alorvi appealed to the government to put its feet down, because the strike action was affecting its image and not that of GES officials, who were trying to muddy issues to prolong the strike action.