Volta teachers take GNAT to court

Ho (Volta Region) ? Teachers in the Volta Region have filed a writ at the Ho High Court for a perpetual injunction against the regional branch of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), restraining it from making any further deduction of 10,000 cedis as GNAT hostel levy until the final determination of the case.

They have further asked for the a declaration restraining GNAT agents, servants, workmen, privies and assigns from making any deduction from their salaries contrary to Article 10(4) of the GNAT Constitution which stipulates that members of the association must be summoned to a meeting to discuss any deductions from their salaries, there had been unconstitutional deductions of 10,000 cedis from every teacher?s pay since 24 July 2002.

The plaintiff contended that the defendants in flagrant violation of the GNAT Constitution, called a meeting on 25 July, last year, after deducting 10,000 cedis without any discussion on the issue. They maintained that the unauthorized and unconstitutional deductions had so far not been accounted for and therefore prayed the court to grant the relief being sought.

But the defendants in their statement denied the allegations. They however admitted the 10,000 cedis deduction from each teacher?s salary. They argued that under the constitution and rules of GNAT, it was only the Regional Council that may impose a special levy on all members of the association in the region for a specific project.

The defendants said that a technical committee meeting agreed at the Regional Conference that 10,000 cedis should be deducted from each member?s salary for 36 months.

They therefore prayed the court to dismiss the claims of the plaintiffs. M.Z. Glover is counsel for the plaintiffs, while Ernest Gawie is representing the defendants. Hearing has been fixed for 17 February.