Teachers and members of NAGRAT Demand Better Conditions of Service

The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) in the Central Region has expressed concern over the poor conditions of service of teachers in Ghana. At a press conference in Cape Coast on Monday, October 23, 2023, the Regional Chairperson of NAGRAT, Ms. Salamatu Gauss, called on the government to immediately conclude a new collective bargaining agreement with the teacher unions.

Ms. Gauss noted that the current collective bargaining agreement for teachers expired in 2022, and that the government has failed to negotiate a new one with the teacher unions. She also lamented the fact that teachers in Ghana are paid significantly less than other public sector workers, who enjoy benefits such as rent allowance, transport allowance, entertainment allowance, and electricity subsidy.

“We are all public sector workers, working for the same government and the same country,” Ms. Gauss said. “And yet, our government sees it necessary to include in the conditions of service for other sector workers, benefits that are not found in the conditions of service for others.”

Ms. Gauss called on the government to ensure that teachers are treated fairly and that they are given the remuneration and benefits they deserve. She warned that if the government fails to do so, teachers may be forced to take industrial action.

“We are, therefore, calling on our leadership to be steadfast in negotiating for new conditions of service to ensure industrial peace and harmony,” she said. “Failure to do this, we will have no other option than to advise ourselves.”

The NAGRAT press conference comes at a time when there is growing discontent among teachers in Ghana over their poor conditions of service. In recent months, there have been a number of protests and strikes by teachers demanding better pay and benefits.

The government has said that it is committed to improving the conditions of service of teachers, but it has not yet released a timeline for negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement. It is hoped that the government will heed the calls of NAGRAT and other teacher unions and take steps to improve the welfare of teachers in Ghana.

PRESS ADDRESSED CENTRAL CONFERENCE REGIONAL CHAIRPERSON OF NAGRAT, MS. SALAMATU GAUSU, ON MONDAY 23 OCTOBER, 2023 AT THE REGIONAL SECRETARIAT, CAPE COAST.

Ladies and gentlemen, of the Press we are happy to invite you this afternoon on our issues concerning our condition of service.

As you are all aware the Ghanaian teacher lags behind when it comes to issues of compensations and remuneration, despite the fact that the teacher works under very challenging conditions everywhere in this country.

It is sad to inform you that our collective bargaining agreement has expired since 2022, and we expect that a new agreement is concluded immediately, Ladies and gentlemen we are all public sector workers, working for the same government and the same country and yet, our government sees it necessary to include in the conditions of service for other sector workers, benefits that are not found in the conditions of service for others

For example, there are public sector workers who are enjoying rent allowance, transport allowance, entertainment allowance, electricity subsidy and other juicy allowances that the Ghanaian teacher does not enjoy.

We are by this press conference calling on our leadership to ensure that benefits that other public sector workers are enjoying, should be enjoyed by the Ghanaian teacher. The Ghanaian teacher cannot be hoping for reward in heaven while others are enjoying

here on earth

We are therefore, calling on our leadership to be steadfast in negotiating for new conditions of service to ensure industrial peace and harmony. Failure to do this, we will have no other option than to advise ourselves.

ADDRESSED

CENTRAL

CONFERENCE REGIONAL CHAIRPERSON OF NAGRAT, MS. SALAMATU GAUSU, ON MONDAY 23 OCTOBER, 2023 AT THE REGIONAL SECRETARIAT, CAPE COAST.

Ladies and gentlemen, of the Press we are happy to invite you this afternoon on our issues concerning our condition of service.

As you are all aware the Ghanaian teacher lags behind when it comes to issues of compensations and remuneration, despite the fact that the teacher works under very challenging conditions everywhere in this country.

It is sad to inform you that our collective bargaining agreement has expired since 2022, and we expect that a new agreement is concluded immediately, Ladies and gentlemen we are all public sector workers, working for the same government and the same country and yet, our government sees it necessary to include in the conditions of service for other sector workers, benefits that are not found in the conditions of service for others

For example, there are public sector workers who are enjoying rent allowance, transport allowance, entertainment allowance, electricity subsidy and other juicy allowances that the Ghanaian teacher does not enjoy.

We are by this press conference calling on our leadership to ensure that benefits that other public sector workers are enjoying, should be enjoyed by the Ghanaian teacher. The Ghanaian teacher cannot be hoping for reward in heaven while others are enjoying

here on earth

We are therefore, calling on our leadership to be steadfast in negotiating for new conditions of service to ensure industrial peace and harmony. Failure to do this, we will have no other

option than to advise ourselves.