NAGRAT kicks against Single Spine

Patrick Abgoyibor (left), Greater Accra Regional Chairman of NAGRAT explaining the association’s position. With him is Rene Kwami Korkor, Vice Chairman.

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Wednesday Cecember 1, 2010.
Even before the implementation of the Single Spine Pay Policy (SSPP) for teachers, the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has already started condemning the policy saying they will never accept it in its current form.

According to NAGRAT, if its members are put on the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) in the current form, it would make the teachers’ salaries condition worse and they will become poorer saying “over 80 per cent of personnel in education will have serious conversion differences.”

Patrick Abgoyibor, Greater Accra Regional Chairman of NAGRAT gave the warning at a news conference in Accra yesterday when he stated NAGART’s position and matters arising following the implementation of the SSPP.

He said as it is now, all teachers from pupil teacher grade to the principal superintendent grade will not have any increment from the SSPP implementation saying “what these teachers are taking now as salaries will be more than what SSPP will offer.”

He said “NAGRAT has made it clear, over and again, our unhappiness about the snail pace at which the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has been working to resolve these problems.”

He said for instance that Principal Superintendent who takes an annual salary of GH¢ 6, 226. 00 currently will get GH¢ 6, 081. 24 with a conversion different of GH¢ 144.76 when hooked unto the SSSS while a deputy Director who take GH¢ 11, 085. 00 will take home GH¢ 10, 255. 14 with a conversion difference of GH¢ 830. 36.

Mr. Abgoyibor said nobody should make a mistake to assume that teachers in the country are being paid well saying “we are just being cheated mainly because of our members…In fact, many are quick to comment about the government’s wage bill without a commensurate use of productivity. It the nation thinks teachers are too many then we should start thinking of closing down some of the schools rather than always sacrificing the welfare of teachers.”

He said the Greater Accra Regional NAGRAT has declared its unflinching support for their national officers to fight for what is due members of the association with regards to the single spine and warned that NAGRAT has resolved to embark on strike from January 2011 when school re-opens if they are not properly placed on the single spine.

“We respectfully call on President John Evans Atta Mills, who is himself a teacher, to take this as a personal matter and service to his own profession. Please Mr. President kindly step in before it escalates beyond repair.”