The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) is threatening to boycott the classroom beginning Monday, October 17, 2011. The association is accusing the Fair Wages and Salary Commission (FWSC) as well as government of unpaid salary arrears. The threat follows an increasing volatile labour environment in which doctors are on strike, with pharmacists threatening same. National President of NAGRAT, Christian Addae-Poku told Joy News, Graduate Teachers are owed 13 months of unpaid salary arrears. According to him, government as well as FWSC negotiated to pay two months out of the 13 accumulated arrears this month, with the arrears of 11 months paid later. Whilst the two months have yet to be paid, Addae-Poku maintained the FWSC has failed to respect a directive from the Labour Commission asking the former to arrange a meeting with the teachers to discuss how and when the eleven months of arrears will be paid. According to him, that directive was issued on September 28, 2011 and nothing has since been heard from the Fair Wages and Salary Commission. He would not accept the excuse that the FWSC has been busy addressing issues with the striking doctors. He said if a meeting is not scheduled by the Commission on or before Friday, they will have no choice but to lay down their tools. But the Deputy Education Minister, Mahama Ayariga is appealing for restraint. He said government has shown enough commitment to pay the first two months of arrears as well as the remaining eleven months. He explained the FWSC would before the end of this week send a letter to the Graduate Teachers and hopefully by next week a meeting between the aggrieved teachers and the FWSC will be held.