Central Region NAGRAT to continue with strike

Cape Coast, Nov. 07, GNA - Members of Central Regional branch of National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) on Tuesday took a unanimous decision not to call off their two months strike action. Last Tuesday, an Accra Fast Track Court ordered NAGRAT to adhere to the law and return to the classroom and teach according to their 'conscience'.

The members in defiance of the court order until their demands were met also called for a massive demonstration by the members nation-wide to inform the public and President John Agyekum Kufuor of their grievances.

They took the decision at a meeting at Cape Coast, where the Central Regional Executives informed them about the court order, and appealed to them to return to the classroom which they refused. It would be recalled that the National Labour Commission (NLC) took NAGRAT to court for embarking on 'an illegal strike action' and the court in its ruling ordered NAGRAT members to adhere to the law and return to the classroom and teach according to their 'conscience'. Mr Kwame Alorvi, National President of NAGRAT, who attended the meeting, was given a standing ovation, with shouts of, 'You are a great leader, and we support you'.

He expressed regret that the demand by NAGRAT for better conditions of service was being personalized and officials were attacking him personally, 93as if he asked them to embark on the strike action.=94 Mr Alorvi explained efforts made by the NAGRAT National Executives so far and was unhappy that salaries of members had been stopped, adding, 'When Parliamentarians walked out of Parliament they were paid, when Polytechnic Teachers, UTAG, Doctors and Nurses went on strike they were paid, but why have NAGRAT members been denied their salaries when they are on strike'.

He said they were'Fighting a just cause' and should therefore not allow their ranks to be divided, 'If there is division in the membership then we are bound to fail,' he added.

Mr Alorvi announced that the association had already filed an appeal on the October 31 court ruling, ordering them to adhere to the law and return to the classroom and teach according to their 'conscience'.

'We would continue to fight until our demands are met,=94 he added.

The NAGRAT President, pointed out that even with the two months strike action, neither Ghana Education Service (GES) nor Minister of Education, Science and Sports have met them to hear their side of the story, this he described as unfortunate, and commended the religious bodies and Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning for meeting them to know of their grievances.

He said the suit was a clear signal that the NLC was out to 93kill the association=94 but the members must fight for its survival. Mr Isaac Kofi Bosuh, Central Regional Vice Chairman, appealed to the members to be firm and resolute.

He advised members who were organizing extra classes for meagre fees to desist from the practice which was affecting their efforts. Mr Bosuh said until these members refrained from their actions, it would be very difficult for them to fight for their cause. He said activities of members in the various schools were being monitored to 'do away with the bad nuts'.