NLC orders teachers to return to classrooms

The National Labour Commission (NLC) has directed the three striking teacher unions to call off their two-day old strike and return to the classroom. The directive was given after a meeting convened by the NLC and attended by the representatives of the three teacher unions, Finance Minister Seth Terkper and the Chief Executive of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission George Smith Graham. The three teacher unions Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT) on October 27, declared an indefinite strike over government’s failure to pay their vehicle maintenance allowance, incremental fees and transfer grants and three months’ salary arrears. The President of the Coalition of Concerned Teachers, Ernest Opoku told Citi News that the leadership of the three unions are not satisfied with the directive given by the NLC but said they may call off the strike after consulting with their members. The Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, George Smith Graham opined in an interview that the strike “could have been avoided if the unions had also been a little patient.” The three striking teacher unions are also part of a current strike announced by labour over government failure to release their tier two pensions. Although the NLC did not offer any explanation about the directive, it is believed the Commission might have hinted to the unions that their action was illegal. Government has however sued them with a view to compel them to call of the strike.

Source:Citifmonline.com