We are not calling off the strike sooner, we are still negotiating- Ashanti regional secretary, GNAT

The Ashanti regional secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Daniel Kwaku Attakorah has revealed that, the ongoing nationwide strike is not ending soon.

According to him, the union is still negotiating with the National labour commission.

Three teacher unions namely Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers Ghana (CCT -GH) laid down their tools on 20th March, 2024, over what they purport as Government’s disregard for their service.

Speaking with Oheneba Nana Asiedu on Wontumi TV, on 27th March, 2024, Mr Attakorah emphasised that, the Unions yesterday met the National labour commission but there was no agreement on their conditions of service.

“We met the National Labour commission yesterday over our laptop distribution and scheme of service. Not every teacher has received a laptop so far and we don’t understand why it is like that.

Our scheme of service is very poor. We need utility subsidy allowance to enable us pay our electricity and water bills. The bills keep escalating and we need money to settle them” he said.

He further stated that, the unions will today meet the Labour commission to engage in negotiations regarding their proposals.

“We have proposed a 15 per cent rent allowance from the government. Government does not build apartments for Teachers as it is done for other profession. How will a teacher who has been posted to a far place get a house to live?

We are also requesting for a 15% transport allowance. Deprived allowance is also 15 per cent. Where some of these Teachers are posted to work is very appalling. They go to remote areas, some even have to cross rivers before they reach their destination and this is a threat to their lives ” he stressed.

 

By Evans Manasseh