Labour Expert, Austin Gamey says, the industrial action being embarked on by teacher unions may have dire consequences on teachers and the government of both parties failed to have a frank and open conversation on the way forward.
He says, labour agitations are nothing new in this country but in the end could lead to economic retardation.
Speaking to the media, Mr Gamey says, the government needs to address the issue holistically to avoid mass unrest.
“We know all other organizations would like to join. And if teachers are paid all other organizations must equally be paid to bring about some equity.
Both parties will have to go to the negotiation table, mindful of the fact that there’s indeed real hardship in the country.
An alternative means should be looked out for to cushion the workers for the time being till the time of the year,” he said.
Meanwhile, there have been calls on the striking teacher’s unions in the country to call off their strike following their demand for a 20 per cent cost of living allowance (COLA).
President Akuffo Addo last Friday, appealed to the union to go back to the classrooms as their strike has dire consequences on students.
The National Labour Commission in a statement also called on the unions to call off their strike to pave way for decisions on their demand.
Reacting to that, the General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Thomas Musa said “until the negotiations are over, there will not be any banter to the pleas.”
