The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has defied an invitation by the National Labour Commission to resolve amicably the impasse between its members and the Ghana Education Service, which has prompted them to threaten a strike beginning Monday. Confirming the latest development to ASEMPA NEWS, the Public Relations Officer of the Commission, Mr. Mohammed Affum stated that, all attempts to get NAGRAT executives on phone to report at the meeting Thursday morning proved futile although a letter had been sent to them. Mr. Affum indicated that, the executives of NAGRAT duly got the letter. The meeting was scheduled for 11am with the Minister of Education, Alex Tetteh-Enyo and the Director of GES, Bannerman Mensah, but NAGRAT failed to attend. According to Mr. Affum, if NAGRAT proceed with the intended strike, it will contradict labour regulations, adding that the Commission has already notified NAGRAT of this. ASEMPA NEWS sought to find out what the accompanying punishment are should NAGRAT refused to heed to the advice of the Labour Commission, upon which Mr. Affum intimated that, the Labour Act stipulates that when employees embark on illegal strike action, the employer can surcharge or fire them, or better still sue the workers to claim for losses made during the illegal strike. Story by Yaa Asantewaa/Asempa FM