Call off illegal strike immediately - NLC orders teachers

The National Labour Commission (NLC) has ordered the three striking teacher unions to call off their strike with immediate effect.

The NLC, while describing the industrial action as illegal, accused the Unions of failing to notify the Commission before embarking on their strike.

The teacher unions — the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT) declared a strike December 5, 2019, after a series of failed engagements with the government on Legacy Arrears incurred between 2012 and 2016.

The teachers say they suspect that the arrears have been verified and approved for payment by the Controller and Accountant General’s internal audit unit, yet the monies have not been released.

The strike which took effect from Monday, December 9, had members of the union abandoning their post, leaving pupils in the care of national service personnel and headteachers.

Checks by JoyNews in some schools across the country found, students loitering around or seated in groups with nothing to do.

In some schools, older students and prefects were forced to help their headteachers maintain order and discipline on campus.

But in a directive to the striking teachers, the Chairperson for the Commission, Andy Kwabena Asamoah, said the ongoing nationwide strike was in contravention of section 159 of the Labour Act 2003 and Act 651.

Source: ghanaweb.com