Pay us to avert strike action – Teachers

Teacher associations have advised government to cut short the unending negotiations while they still demand payment as the only resolve to retire the two year impasse on their outstanding arrears.
Head of Compensation and Working Conditions at GNAT, Kwamena Ahenakwa-Quarshie says the teacher unions are not ready to yield to further talks but will consummate the decision to their strike action if the teachers are paid all allowances.
“…We’re not interested in meeting any government officials; they can go ahead and do their validation… but we want all allowances paid so that going forward we have a clean sheet,” he told Accra-based Citi FM Tuesday.
He said the identity of those from the Colleges of Education cannot be said to be in doubt, insisting that one does not need audit in this scheme of affairs.
A validation to them is only government’s business, however this must be wrapped up before the deadline expires by the end of February.
Meetings held on Monday and Tuesday to resolve the impasse could not yield any positive results but Labour Minister is optimistic both parties could reach a middle ground by Wednesday when negotiations continue.
“We will continue to dialogue until we get them to decline the threat of the strike action. Tomorrow [Wednesday] we will make a definite pronouncement on how we intend to resolve the issue. Some of the issues they’ve raised are legitimate [and] there are others that the GES has raised about irregularities, all which will be probed further by the Auditor General,” Kwamena Ahenakwa-Quarshie revealed.