FWSC accuses GNAT, NAGRAT of hypocrisy

The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) is accusing the leadership of the striking teachers of hypocrisy, with regard to their handling of issues emanating from their industrial action.

Head of Public Affairs at the FWSC, Earl Ankrah, says the leaders of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), are playing double standards, which could further frustrate efforts to get them back to the classrooms.

The teachers have been on strike since Monday, March 18, 2013, to press home their demands for better conditions of service.

According to Mr. Ankrah, what the leaderships of GNAT and NAGRAT say at the negotiation table is radically and fundamentally different from what they tell their members when they come out of the negotiations.

Speaking on the Super Morning Show on Joy FM Thursday, Mr. Earl Ankrah said the FWSC was “surprised” when the teachers announced the decision to embark on a strike.

He said prior to that announcement on Friday March, 15, 2013, the Commission had met with the teachers on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, and there was little indication that the teachers were going to embark on strike.

Mr. Ankrah is therefore urging the teachers Unions to call off the strike and return to the negotiation table for their concerns to be addressed.

The latest to join GNAT and NAGRAT is the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU). The group resolved to declare a strike at a meeting on Wednesday March 20, 2013.

National Chairman of TEWU, Peter Lumor said TEWU felt gravely slighted and disrespected by the Fair Wages and National Commission which he accused consistently sidelining the Union.