GNAT in Upper West embark on strike

Wa, Oct 02, GNA - Some concerned members of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) in the Upper West region on Monday embarked on an industrial action to demand better salaries and called for the immediate resignation of the entire leadership of GNAT.

The Concerned GNAT members said they have endorsed the current strike action by the Ghana National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and called on the Government to put teachers on the same salary levels with those of the Health sector as per the Ghana Universal Salary Structure. These were contained in a statement read by Mr Khalid

Abdul-Rahman, a spokesperson for the teachers, at a news

conference at Wa. It was attended by about 300 teachers,

wearing red arm and head bands. The statement declared a one-week industrial action,

beginning Monday October 2, and warned that if by Friday,

October 6, no positive response was received from the

government, members would put into action plans they were

withholding from the public. The teachers recalled that before NAGRAT embarked on

their indefinite industrial action, they had called on government

to review the salaries of workers, especially those of teachers by

September, this year. NAGRAT also asked the Controller and Accountant-General

to stop using the auto-code in making deductions from the salaries of teachers to allow newly recruited teachers the choice of association.

According to the teachers, NAGRAT further called on the Government to offer free education to at least two children of the teacher up to University or tertiary level.

"Interestingly, the General secretary of GNAT indirectly corroborates NAGRAT strike when she said on Television on September 27, that the grievances NAGRAT presented to the education authorities were being pursued by GNAT since 2001".

The statement said at an emergency meeting on September 28 at Wa, the Upper West Regional GNAT officials told teachers that the GNAT as a member of the joint consultative forum negotiated for 20 per cent salary increase for 2006.

They noted that the Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA) and others, which also formed part of the Consultative forum, renegotiated very good packages for their members.

"We have no confidence in the leadership of GNAT and hereby call on the General Secretary, all Regional and District Secretaries of GNAT to resign with immediate effect". The concerned teachers asked the Regional Executive of the Association to account for all monies accruing from the hiring of the GNAT hall and hostel. They suggested that all positions in the GNAT hierarchy

should be made elective and non-full time with terminal limits. 02 Oct 06