Resolve our issues or we will strike – NAGRAT to gov’t

The Ghana National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has served notice it will embark on an industrial action if the government does not resolve the Association’s issues satisfactorily.

The President of the Association, Christian Addai-Poku, said NAGRAT had written its concerns to the Ministry of Education and other relevant bodies in the country’s educational sector and was waiting patiently on the government to act on those concerns.

Asked if NAGRAT intended striking if its issues were not resolved, Mr Addai-Poku, in an interview with Paa Kwesi Parker-Wilson on Ghana Yensom on Accra100.5FM on Monday May 1 as Ghanaians join the world to celebrate Workers’ Day, said: “We have several outstanding issues, so depending on how the government will solve those issues we will act. If those issues are not resolved properly, then we will strike.

“The presidents has always made public pronouncements that he has the welfare of teachers at heart. It’s early days yet into this administration and so we are waiting.

“We have catalogued our concerns to the minister and so we expect that the promises, if fulfilled, will make our situation better.”

He added: “The delay in the payment of our allowances and salaries is an issue which demoralises us and so we expect that this would be resolved. If the conditions of service improve, then workers will be motivated enough to do more.”

Ghana joins the rest of the world to celebrate International Workers’ Day today, Monday 1 May.

The day is marked across the world to celebrate labour and the working class.

In Ghana, the day is celebrated with a parade by trade unions and labour associations. The parades are normally addressed by the Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress and by regional secretaries in the regions. Workers from different workplaces through banners and T-shirts identify their companies.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is expected to be the special guest of honour at this year’s National May Day Parade to be held at the Independence Square.

This year’s May Day celebration is on the theme: “Ghana @60: Mobilising for Ghana’s future through the creation of decent jobs”.

Accrafmonline