Striking teachers ordered to resume work today

Fijai (W/R), Oct. 3, GNA - Striking teachers in some parts of the Western, Brong Ahafo and Eastern regions, have been asked by their leadership to return to the classroom by Monday, October 3. This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the government represented by the Central Management Board (CMB) and members of the Forum on September 29, 2005.

Mrs Irene Duncan Adanusa, General Secretary, Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Mr Smart Y. A. Chigabatia, Executive Secretary of the Civil Servants Association (CSA), and Mr Philip Afful, Secretary of the Judicial Service Association of Ghana (JUSAG) signed the MOU. Mrs Alice D. Asare-Allotey, representing the Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA) however, did not sign the MOU.

In a memo to the leadership of GNAT nationwide, titled "Conclusion of Salary Negotiations for Year 2005 by the Forum" and copy made available to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Fijai on Monday, was signed by the Secretary General of GNAT, Mrs Adanusa stated, "this is to enable us work seriously to beat the deadline for the inclusion of proposals for year 2006 and also ensure that our constituents manage to gain something, however small from the 2005 disbursements".

She said the MOU would take effect from June 1, 2005 with a 11.5 per cent increase across board on the Ghana Universal Salary Structure (GUSS) for 2005.

Mrs Adanusa said the amounts would be paid in during the October, November and December 2005 salaries adding, "a special allowance of 25 billion cedis would also be paid according to an agreed format between October and December this year.

"In the light of the foregoing, planned protests have to cease as from Monday, Oct. 3 and those districts, which had embarked on strikes have been advised to call it off and their members return to work accordingly".

Mrs Adanusa expressed her appreciation to staff and members of the