GNAT, NAGRAT and PRETAG threaten strike over unresolved conditions of service
Three major pre-tertiary teacher unions have warned of possible industrial action if the government fails to resolve outstanding issues contained in their conditions of service.
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) say they are frustrated by delays in implementing key agreements reached during previous negotiations.
The warning follows a meeting between the unions and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) on Thursday, July 16, which ended without a breakthrough after the commission indicated that it would need to seek a new mandate from government before continuing discussions.
Speaking on Channel One Newsroom, PRETAG Vice President Adokwei Ayikwei Awulley said the unions remain concerned about unresolved matters that have been part of teachers’ conditions of service for several years.
He mentioned the lack of a clear promotion pathway for teachers at the deputy director level, which has resulted in some educators remaining in the position for more than a decade due to limited vacancies.
Mr Awulley also raised concerns over the non-implementation of incentives for teachers posted to difficult and hard-to-reach areas, describing the situation as a long-standing failure by successive governments to honour negotiated commitments.
“The problem that we have is about two main issues that have occurred consistently in our condition of service from 2009 up to date, and it has never been implemented,” he said.
He noted that although President John Dramani Mahama issued a directive for the promotion of deputy directors to be addressed, the directive had yet to be implemented.
“His Excellency President John Mahama issued a directive that it should be implemented. Until now, it has not been done, and it is also part of the condition of service,” he stated.
According to Mr Awulley, teachers working in deprived communities have also been denied a 20% incentive that was agreed as part of measures to encourage service in challenging locations.
He said the unions would allow government until the end of the following week to show clear commitment towards resolving the outstanding concerns.
“If nothing concrete is done, we will advise ourselves. We’ll use all possible means at our disposal to ensure that we get what we are supposed to get,” he warned.
The teacher unions stressed that their demands are not new requests but rather previously negotiated benefits and commitments that have yet to be fulfilled.