The Women’s wing of Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT-LAS) has appealed to teachers to unite and support the leadership of GNAT in seeking the welfare of members.
In a statement read by Madam Florence S. Kuribla, Upper East Regional coordinator of GNAT-LAS at a press conference in Sunyani, the
ladies stressed that without unity there could not be any fruitful negotiations between the leadership and government.
The press conference was attended by national executives and coordinators of GNAT-LAS and was aimed at expressing the Association’s views on the recent unrest by some teachers over the migration of teachers onto the Single Spine Salary Structure(SSSS).
The statement said it was disturbing that while the teacher unions continued de-centralized negotiations with organised labour in order to get better emoluments for members, “some of our members had resorted to the blame game, blaming the leadership of GNAT for their plight and even asked them to resign.”
“This is rather unfortunate,” the statement said, “as the leadership of GNAT cannot be held for the errors that occurred (in the SSSS migration)”.
The statement said if some members were peeved with the GNAT leadership for reasons other than the SSSS issue, “then the doors are
opened for them to seek redress, using the union’s structures”.
The ladies emphasized it was time the teachers remained resolute and united behind the leaders as they engaged in better negotiations
for members.
The statement noted that GNAT was one of the most reputable teachers’ organizations in Africa as far as trade unionism in the education sector was concerned and had over the years negotiated for vibrant conditions of services for its members.
GNAT, the statement said, negotiated with government for the establishment of the Ghana Teaching Service, which brought both classroom teachers and professional field officers of the Ministry of Education together under one umbrella as well as the upgrading of teachers through distance education, the statement said.
Among others, the GNAT leadership also negotiated for the restoration of allowances paid to teacher trainees and subsequent increase in the allowances, study leave, maternity leave and sick leave up to six months with full pay and another six months on half salary, the statement added.
The GNAT Ladies stated that the institution of economic and welfare services such as teachers’ fund, credit unions and hostels for
the benefit of teachers were all achievements of GNAT, which continued to negotiate for the free education for teachers’ children, accommodation for teachers and enhanced responsibility allowances for them.
They emphasized that the teachers’ body operated with a constitution put together by members who constantly revised it according to laid down conditions and pledged the support of “the entire membership of GNAT-LAS” for the GNAT executives to continue with their good works.