NLC orders POTAG to call off strike

The National Labour Commission (NLC) on Wednesday directed members of Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) to call off the strike and resume work immediately.

In addition, the Controller and Accountant-General should ensure that POTAG members are paid in accordance with their migration onto the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) on or before June 30.

The NLC in a statement issued by Mr. Edward Briku-Boadu, Executive Secretary, said the Commission received a complaint on May 29, from the Ministry of Education informing it of an “illegal strike by POTAG.”

Considering the urgency of the matter, the Commission served a subpoena on the Ministry of Education (Complainant), the National President of POTAG (Respondent) and the Chief Executive of Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to a hearing in the matter on May 30.

"Although the subpoena was duly served and received by POTAG; POTAG failed and or refused to honour the invitation," it added.

At the hearing, the complainant submitted among others that the respondent did not serve it the appropriate notice to embark on the strike and that as far as the complainant was concerned, there was no issue that warrants the strike as in its opinion, it had completed the necessary processes to have POTAG members migrated onto the SSSS, and that the Controller and Accountant-General was in the process of paying POTAG members migrated onto the SSSS.

Complainant added that the Executives of POTAG is aware of the state of migration of POTAG members onto the SSSS.

"The Commission, having heard the submissions by the complainant, and same confirmed by the FWSC, in exercise of powers conferred on it gave the directive," it added.**