Teachers in Wa decide to delay Industrial action

Wa, Sept.28, GNA - Teachers within the Wa Municipality on Wednesday gave the assurance that they would embark on strike only when their leadership failed to reach an agreement with the Government on their conditions of service. "We understand and respect the Labour law therefore, will not take any action to undermine it while our grievances is being addressed by the National Labour Commission," Mr Martin Asamanaba, Upper West Regional Secretary of the Ghana National Association Of Teachers said at Wa.

He gave the assurance when the Teachers marched to the Regional Coordinating Council to present a protest letter to President John Agyekum Kufuor through the Regional Minister on the need to address their grievances without delay. They carried placards some of which read; "no variation in earlier agreements", "GNAT cannot condone the stance of the Government" and "Success of the FCUBE depends on September 8 agreement", to draw public sympathy to their cause.

The letter read by Mr Bashir Mumuni, Wa Municipal Chairman of GNAT called on the President to intervene in the negotiations to ensure all aspects of the agreement were implemented. According to the teachers, it was agreed that there should be a 10 per cent upward adjustment of salaries across board for Level three to 32 in the Ghana Universal Salary Structure (GUSS) with effect from March 1, this year.

Teachers were also to enjoy a special allowance of 25 billion cedis per month from September to December this year and an upward review of all re-imbursement allowances for them. They said they were using the "cooling-off period" under the Labour Act to express their sentiments and disappointment in the Government's refusal to implement the agreement.

Mr George Hikah Benson, Upper West Deputy Regional Minister who received the letter, commended the teachers for the peaceful manner they conducted themselves during the protest march. He appealed to them to return to the classroom while their grievances were being addressed and expressed the hope they would be met to enable them give off their best in educating the children.