NAGRAT, GNAT, PRETAG meet government today over nationwide strike

Pre-tertiary teacher unions are expected to meet the government today in a fresh attempt to resolve outstanding concerns over their conditions of service and pave the way for an end to their nationwide strike.

The meeting follows a decision by the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) to embark on an immediate nationwide strike.

However, the unions are demanding action on several outstanding issues, including the payment of promotion arrears owed to teachers and delays in negotiations over their conditions of service.

They also insist that the concerns require urgent attention and are appealing to the government to clear the outstanding arrears and conclude negotiations on the remaining conditions of service.

According to NAGRAT President Jacob Anaba, the unions are willing to engage the government if the meeting provides a genuine opportunity to resolve the issues that led to the strike. He made the comment in an interview with Citi News.

“Our reason for raising the issues is to resolve them, so if there is an avenue for us to resolve them, we will avail ourselves and make sure that we resolve the issues,” he said.

He also added, “I had a call and was told the Ministry of Education called, but while I was driving today, I had a call from the Chief Director of the Ministry of Employment, Jobs and Labour Relations that there is going to be a meeting, and we will definitely be at the meeting to try and resolve our issues.”

The meeting is expected to focus on the unions’ outstanding demands and possible measures to address them.

The outcome is expected to influence the unions’ next steps, including whether to continue the industrial action or consider suspending the strike if significant progress is made in the negotiations.