POTAG Suspends Action

The Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) suspended its industrial action from yesterday, May 26, 2006 to June 1, 2006.

It said the move was to ensure the resumption and conclusion of its negotiations with the government.

Consequently, POTAG is calling on all its members to resume normal academic work within the period of the suspension of the strike.

The association, on May 17, 2006,started an indefinite strike to back its demand for the government to reconvene and conclude negotiations on salaries and conditions of service.

On May 24, 2006, the government responded to the call and invited POTAG to a meeting, which was held between the Standing Joint Negotiating Committee of the polytechnics and a Deputy Minister of Manpower Development, Youth and Employment.

At the end of the meeting, a timetable was drawn for negotiations to resume on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 and conclude by Thursday, June 1, 2006.

A statement jointly signed by the President of POTAG, Mr Benjamin Kojo Otoo, and the General Secretary, Mr Kwame Tenadu, said as soon as “negotiations are concluded, POTAG shall call off its strike”.

“It must be reiterated that irrespective of the fact that the government had, over the years, exhibited good faith with POTAG, POTAG has adopted this stand with the hope that this time round the government will not relent in its effort to find a lasting solution to the seemingly yearly ritual of strike by POTAG,” it said.

The statement said the decision to suspend the strike was taken at an emergency meeting held at Accra Polytechnic yesterday.