Attempts by the Education Ministry to persuade the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) from embarking on a strike appear to have failed with the latter calling on Paul Krampah, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Education, to take some lessons in Ghana's labour laws. GNAT is incensed with the perceived feet-dragging by the GES to negotiate improved working conditions for teachers and have threatened to lay down their tools on Monday, 14th December, 2009. President of GNAT, Joseph Adjei said they have accommodated GES' inertia for far too long and will now speak the 'language' they (GES) understand. But Paul Krampah, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Education described the intended strike as baseless. He argued that GNAT must direct, among other things, demands for an upward review of their allowances to the Fair Wages Commission (FWC)and not the Ghana Education Service for negotiations. “Now there is a promulgation of the Fair Wages Commission outfit and now it is not the responsibility of the management of the Ghana Education Service to negotiate with the various unions within the education sector. It is now the responsibility of the unions to negotiate with the Fair Wages Commission. So I don’t see why issues of this nature should be raised,” he said. But the General Secretary of GNAT, Irene Adanusa was blunt in her reaction; “I think that Mr Krampah needs to be educated on the labour regulations and the labour processes.” She explained that whatever decision arrived at by the Fair Wages Commission is subject to negotiations by the various ministries, departments and agencies, adding “the introduction of the Fair Wages Commission does not mean the process of collective bargaining agreement has been abolished.” She said her outfit is disappointed over the attitude by the GES to resolve legitimate demands put forward by her outfit. They are expecting a response from the GES, failure which GNAT will embark on a strike, Monday. Play the attached audio for excerpts of the interviews with officials of GNAT and Paul Krampah. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana