The National Labour Commission has directed National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) to call off its strike with immediate effect, reports say.
According to the report, the directive came after a meeting in Accra on Wednesday which was attended by the leadership of NAGRAT, their sister body GNAT, the Ghana Education Service, and other social partners.
A statement by the Labour Commission signed by the Director of Industrial Relations, Martin Didemudo said the Commission’s directive is derived from its mandate under section 13 (1) of the Labour Act, 2003 Act 651 that empowers it to facilitate the settlement of industrial disputes.
NAGRAT declared the strike action last week, citing untold pressure and hardship brought on to teachers by the newly introduced human resource management information system. (HRMIS).
According to NAGRAT President, Angel Carbonu, the HRMIS acquired by the Public Services Commission, has created a lot of setbacks for teachers which is affecting their work.
He said outstanding salary arrears, delays in promotion, additional responsibility allowance, delays in receiving promotion letters and the inability to seek transfer are some of the issues the president said, are affecting the teachers across the country.
According to Carbonu, the system procured by the Public Services Commission, is incompatible with the scheme of services of the Ghana Education Service (GES).
“We have complained about the system to no avail. Now teachers have also begun working on long hours,” Mr. Carbonu said.
He explained he does not understand why teachers should be used as pawns in a game.
Six regions of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) also joined the strike action despite their national body staying away.
The Labour Commission will meanwhile facilitate another meeting with the groups on Monday, September 16, 2019, to find an amicable solution to the impasse.