Members of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) in six regions have embarked on industrial action following what they described as government’s inability to “resolve the many challenges confronting” them. The decision to strike on Tuesday September 10 coincides with the reopening of basic schools across the country. According to the leaders, they have been “inundated with incessant calls and agitations” from their members across the regions seeking to embark on industrial action. “Looking at the fact that many of the issues are not new and have been with the employer for a very long time without any solution, we as Regional Chairmen. and Rep. are unable to restrain our members from embarking on their intended industrial action effective Tuesday, 10th September, 2019 until all the issues are effectively resolved,” a statement signed by the regional chairmen remarked. The affected regions are Greater Accra, Volta, Upper East, Upper West, Northern and Central. Among the issues raised are:
- Non-renewal of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
- GES/SIC Group Life Insurance Policy deductions. 3. Non-payment and the difficulty of placing staff on additional responsibility allowances.
- Challenges confronting the implementation of the Standard Based Curriculum.
- Non-payment of salary arrears.
- Non-payment of transfer grants, and transport and travelling allowances.
- Delay in advertisement, interview and issuance of promotion letters.
- Delay in salary adjustment.
- Re-instatement of the one hundred and ten (110) Basic School headteacher, of Ga West District in the Greater Accra Region.
- Extension of contest hours without the commensurate remuneration.