The Governing Council of the Ghana Education Service (GES) on Thursday directed teachers on strike to resume work forthwith. A statement signed by Professor Agyewodin Adu-Gyamfi Ampem, Acherensuahene and Chairman of GES Council in Accra, said the Council was of the view that teachers who were still on strike were flouting the rules and regulations of the Service as well as breaching the Labour Act. “Council notes with regret that some teachers are still out of school when National Labour Commission (NLC) that is charged with the duty of resolving industrial disputes in the country is handling the issues raised by the concerned teachers. “It is the view of Council that teachers who are still on strike are flouting the rules and regulations of the Ghana Education Service as well as breaching the Labour Act, 2003, Act 651. “Council therefore directs that teachers on strike should resume work forthwith,” the statement said. It added that the Council has been following with great anxiety the unfolding events since teachers were migrated onto the single spine payroll at the end of February this year. The events started with demonstrations in all the regional capitals and strikes by some teachers who described themselves as concerned teachers of GNAT and NAGRAT. They raised issues which included their dissatisfaction with the quantum of salaries they received under the single spine pay policy, loss of confidence in the leadership of GNAT and NAGRAT and hence calling for their resignation, and demanding that their salaries be improved. The Ministry of Education and Employment and Social Welfare set up a committee to rectify the errors in the February salaries of teachers with negotiations with the leadership of GNAT and NAGRAT for payment of premium allowance that was paid with effect from March. The NLC has also had series of meetings with the concerned teachers, Ministry of Education, GES and the leadership of GNAT and NAGRAT to further address their grievances. “At the last meeting, the NLC asked GES and the concerned teachers to provide it with certain information and report back to the Commission within two weeks,” according to the statement which also “directed the concerned teachers to discontinue their strike and return to the classrooms". Source: GNA