The Governing Council of Ghana Education Service (GES)on Thursday directed teachers on strike to resume work forthwith.
A statement signed by Professor Agyewodin Adu-Gyamfi Ampem, Acherensuahene and Chairman of GES Council in Accra said the Council was of the view that teachers who were still on strike were flouting the rules and regulations of the Service as well as breaching the Labour Act.
“Council notes with regret that, some teachers are still out of school when National Labour Commission (NLC) that is charged with the duty of resolving industrial disputes in the country is handling the issues raised by the concerned teachers.”
“It is the view of Council that teachers who are still on strike are flouting the rules and regulations of the Ghana Education Service as well as breaching the Labour Act, 2003, Act 651,” the statement added.
“Council therefore directs that teachers on strike should resume work forthwith,” it said.
The statement said the Council has been following with great anxiety the unfolding events since teachers were migrated onto the single spine payroll at the end of February this year.
The events started with demonstrations in all the regional capitals and strikes by some teachers who described themselves as concerned teachers of GNAT and NAGRAT.
The concerned teachers raised some issues which included their dissatisfaction with the quantum of salaries they received under the single spine pay policy, loss of confidence in the leadership of GNAT and NAGRAT, calling for the resignation of their leaders and demanding that their salaries be improved.
Council notes with satisfaction that since the series of demonstrations and sporadic strikes organised by the concerned teachers, some measures had been taken first by the Ministers of Education and Employment and Social Welfare by setting up a committee to rectify the errors in the February salaries of some teachers; negotiated with the leadership of GNAT and NAGRAT for payment of premium allowance that was paid with effect from March.
The NLC has had series of meetings with the concerned teachers, Ministry of Education, GES and the leadership of GNAT and NAGRAT on the issues raised by the concerned teachers.
“At the last meeting, the NLC asked GES and the concerned teachers to provide it with certain information and report back to the Commission within two weeks.”
“The NLC also directed the concerned teachers to discontinue their strike and return to the classrooms,” it added.