It would be illegal to withhold our salaries- striking Poly lecturers tell gov’t


Striking Polytechnic lecturers have rubbished reports they will not be paid for the month of August.

Vice President of the Greater Accra branch of POTAG Jones Ntiamoah said it would be illegal for government to take that decision.

Reports have been rife about government’s decision to withhold the August salaries of POTAG lecturers who have been on strike for over three months.

The Education Minister is reported to have directed the Accountant General, Friday not to pay the striking teachers.

The call for the salaries of striking polytechnic lecturers to be withheld began with the former Security Advisor Brigadier Nunoo Mensah who did not understand why the lecturers would be receiving salaries while at home.

The lecturers are protesting the non-payment of their book and research allowance which has been in arrears for several months.

Speaking to Myjoyonline.com the Vice President of the Greater Accra Branch of POTAG Jones Ntiamoah said their strike has been declared legal by the court and will therefore be illegal for government to seek to freeze their salaries.

As far as he is concerned they will be receiving their salaries at the end of the month, describing reports of the freeze as mere speculations.

He said if government wants to freeze salaries they are obliged by law to inform the parties against whom the decision will be made, stressing, no such information has come to the attention of POTAG.

Mr Ntiamoah questioned government’s commitment to resolve the impasse citing what he says was contemptuous manner in which an MOU signed at the behest of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education was treated by Education and Finance Ministries.

He said they are resolved to go the full hog to address their grievances.

Government is not immediately available for comment.

Comments:
This article has 0 comment, leave your comment.