It is exactly 50 days since the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) embarked on a strike action to press home demands for better conditions of service. Among their demands is the removal of the Acting Director-General of the GES that he has attained the compulsory retirement age of 60. A few days later the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports, issued a statement explaining that even though Mr Nsowah had reached the retiring age he is on contract. The statement further explained that, an advertisement for the position has been put out and prospective applicants will be interviewed. Now, to NAGRAT, are you the appointing authority to determine when somebody should go on retirement, or not? (Asem beba debi) For information, this is not the 1st time that GES or for that matter any official of an MDA has passed the 60 years mark and has been given a contract.
A strike action by workers is a period of time when an organized group of employees stops working because of a disagreement over pay or conditions. The time frame cannot be indefinite. Much as every person has the right to embark on a strike action, there are laws that regulate which category of workers can go on strike. There are also rules of engagements that call for dialogue and negotiations, where both the employer and employee lay their cards. This is where I think some blackmailing is being enacted. According t the labour law, the group which has the collecting Bargaining Agreement has the locus starch to negotiate. Much as I appreciate the desire of the NAGRAT to negotiate for salaries, it is a fact that they do not possess the CBA and therefore in law, they cannot claim a right to negotiate. I shedder to think that it will be suicidal for the Government to break the same laws it initiated to maintain orderliness.
The NAGRAT has challenged the propriety of this aspect of the labour law, citing Article 21 1(0) which state inter alia.
“All persons shall have the right to freedom of association which shall include freedom to form….fro the protection of their interest.”
The existence of NAGRAT as an association is empowered by this provision. However, it must be acknowledged that the laws of Ghana now article II comprise of the Constitution, enactments made under the authority of Parliament established by the Constitution, and some others like the Common law and the existing law.
Therefore for NAGRAT to say by word of mouth that they do not believe in the prosperity of the labour which does not allow them to negotiate is most unfair, unfortunate and disrespectful to the rule of law. As advised by the President of the GBA, K. Tetteh, we must respect the laws of the land without exception.
Since the strike action, some of the NAGRAT teachers go to the schools, and look on scornfully whilst the children loiter around. Are we in the profession because we want a job or are convinced that we can serve our nation better by teaching. It is my candid opinion, it is saddening to go to the school everyday, do no work and teach privately using Government’s property, and collect your salary at the end of every mouth from Government. We cannot select which laws to obey and to disobey, which is Constitutional and which is not. That is clearly for the highest echelon of the judiciary to determine. Once NAGRAT has opted to challenge the legality of the labour law, it is incumbent on them to go to the classroom and await the outcome of the decision of the court.
A friend drew my attention to Art 28 (4) which rendition goes like this “No child shall be deprived by any other person of medical treatment, education or any other social or economic benefit by reason only of religion or other benefits.
A careful reading of the above Constitution provision indicts NAGRAT for depriving our children of the education whose school fees for which their parents like all Ghanaian workers struggle to pay. Should the belief of NAGRAT that they are not well paid be the grounds to deny our children what they constitutionally deserve. I am expecting a reaction from child’s rights advocacy groups and the ministry of women and children’s affairs to make a case for the children of this country.
According to a paper I have distributed I am told by the Hon Baah Wiredu, there is not a single year when teachers do not receive salary increases. For a cent a teacher receiving ¢3.2 per annum in 2000, to day receiving ¢17.2 million in 2006
For September, from 6.3 now it is 30.3 million.
The Hon Minister of Finance further added that our revenue expectation is 26 trillion, out of which 53% (14.1) goes to the GES (Teachers Educational Infrastructure etc), 30% for statutory payments like GETFund, DACF and others. Therefore we are left with 17% to cater for other public servants and other services.
My information is that, if all he requirements of NAGRAT are to be met, it will cost the nation ¢31 trillion for beyond our financial strength of ¢26 trillion. Why is NAGRAT defiant in the face of all these facts? They are yet to conflict the figure and have blatantly refused to go to the talk negotiation or join hands with GNAT?
Let me say that, they are losing public sympathy and the earlier they take advantage of the magnanimity to participate in the on going negotiations the better. Otherwise, freeze their salaries, because they do not deserve one for no work done.
A raclicalist suggested that they are dissatisfied, they should resign and look for better jobs elsewhere. If anybody thinks being a doctor, nurse, and engineer can earn him/her a comfortable income, he should go to the school to study those professions. I always listen to popular FM stations and get amazed how the NDC serial callers gracefully want to use this unfortunate situation for propaganda. Yet when you ask them if they have a word for the teacher, they lamely say we should plead with them, but that exactly the tenor of the plethoric of appeals that this was going to affect the future of the NPP in the Offinso Bye-election.
As a party that fraudulently prides itself in social democracy they have not said anything positive to assuage the pain of parents.
Meanwhile let me congratulate the NPP and ask the Government to be firm in defence of the laws of Ghana and continue to negotiate with GNAT until the NAGRAT through the law courts get a collective bargaining agreement.
NAGRAT MUST GO TO CLASSROOM AND LEAVE THE REST TO CIVIL SOCIETY.
Copyright © 1994 - 2024 GhanaWeb. All rights reserved.
