GOOD NEWS: Fair Wages set date to meet teacher unions over payment of Cost of Living Allowance
The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission said it will meet with all stakeholders soon to evaluate if teachers’ demand for a 20 percent Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) will be met.
NAGRAT and other teacher unions have given the government until June 30 to pay the payment or face a series of strikes.
According to NAGRAT, the current economic downturn has worsened the situation for teachers, resulting in a demand for allowances to be provided.
The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, on the other hand, insists that all essential stakeholders must be on board before the payment can be finalized.
“It’s fair that stakeholders can propose COLA or any other allowance, but at the end of the day, we need to get down with organized labor, the government, and all other parties to decide if COLA will be paid.” We also need to finalize the base pay for 2023 so that it can be accounted for in the budget. The minimum daily pay has yet to be determined,” stated Earl Ankrah, the Commission’s Head of Public Affairs.
Jacob Anaba, Vice President of NAGRAT, notes that the ultimatum is based on present economic realities, the deteriorating predicament of teachers, and the government’s failure to negotiate.
“Earlier in the day, the President declared, and I quote, “we (government) know how to bring the economy back to life.” We have no idea how to bring individuals back to life.” What has changed, and what hasn’t? Mr. President, your people (workers) are dying; please take care of them right away and do not put the economy ahead of human resources. The worker has had enough of the financial misery.”
NAGRAT’s leadership stated that if their demands are not met, they will be forced to go on strike.
“As a result, we demand that the government award workers a 20 percent Cost Of Living Allowance (COLA) by the end of June 2022 as soon as possible.” If all of the demands are not met by the end of July 2022, the leadership will have no choice but to declare a strike. If the conditions are not addressed, leadership agrees to take positive action, commencing with the wearing of red bands by the end of June 2022,” he added.
