Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana has declared a nation wide strike from effect May 15, 2014.
According to the Local Chairman of POTAG at Cape Coast Polytechnic Isaac Aggrey-Fynn has necessitated this painful action due to lack of commitment on the part of government to pay the book and research allowance.
Mr. Aggrey- Fynn noted that the Deputy Minister of Education in charged of Tertiary Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, that the government wants to use the book and research allowance as seed money for the research fund.
PRESS RELEASE
Following Congress decision at an Emergency Congress meeting held at
Accra Polytechnic on 13th May 2014, POTAG write to inform all chapters
that we are to lay down our tools and withdraw all our services with
immediate effect. This has become necessary as a result of Governments’
unwillingness and persistent lack of seriousness towards the payment of
our Book and Research Allowance for the 2013/2014 Academic Year.
This stance by Government is further aggravated by National Labour
Commission’s refusal to even acknowledge us after we had written to
inform the NLC of the matter. POTAG therefore have no choice than to
resort to this action in order to fight for our rights and to defend our
conditions of service. Amongst a litany of issues are;
1. That the Book and Research (B&R) Allowance is part and parcel of POTAG’s negotiated Conditions of Service.
2. That this allowance was negotiated for and agreed upon by both
parties and therefore no single party (in this case government) can
unilaterally take them off. Indeed POTAG would have unilaterally
increased this allowance long ago if it were possible for any single
party to vary the terms.
3. We have requested Government through the National Council for
Tertiary Education (NCTE) and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission
(FWSC) to take steps to pay us the 2013/2014 Academic Year’s B&R
Allowance before the end of the academic year in May. POTAG first made
the request in a letter dated 6th January 2014, government was
subsequently reminded of this request in letters dated 17th of February
2014 and 18th March 2014 respectively.
4. At a press conference held in Kumasi Polytechnic on the 15th of
April 2014, POTAG gave Government an ultimatum of 22nd April 2014 to
take immediate steps to pay the allowance.
5. In a letter dated 15th April 2014, we wrote to inform the National
Labour Commission (NLC) of Government’s obstinate attitude towards this
matter. We also in same letter stated our intention to divulge all
legitimate arsenals to fight for this allowance.
6. At a meeting with the Minister of Education on the 22nd April
2014, Government called for documentation, showing proof that the
B&R is part of our conditions of service. This in POTAG’s view
amounts to feet dragging and a demonstration of lack of commitment by
Government.
7. Again at a meeting with the Deputy Minister of Education
(Tertiary) on the 13th of April 2014, Government exhibited yet
non-commitment to resolving the matter.
8. We believe that this is not a good industrial relations practice
by Government and a clear affront to the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651).
In the midst of this blatant disregard and lack of cooperation by
Government, POTAG is left in the woods wondering the kind of obligation
that Government has towards Polytechnic Education. We are therefore
compelled to advise ourselves and take the necessary steps to fight for
our Conditions of Service (B&R Allowance). We also wish to remind
stakeholders and civil society of Government’s obstinate attitude
towards resolving simple and straightforward issues, which would
eventually fester and leave serious consequences on manpower development
drive in Ghana.
Long Live POTAG
Long Live Polytechnic Education
Long Live Ghana
Thank you,
IBRAHIM, Adamu
(General Secretary)
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