Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Bright Wereko-Brobbey, has said that the representatives of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and the National Graduate Association of Teachers (NAGRAT) walked out of the negotiation with the government over their demand for Cost of Living Allowance (COLA).
As a result, the meeting held yesterday has been adjourned indefinitely.
According to Mr. Bright Wereko-Brobbey, the adjournment was due to the refusal of some labour unions to call off their strike before negotiations commence.
He stated that the meeting will be reconvened later this week to continue negotiations.
Meanwhile, the two associations accused the government of betrayal of trust for asking them to call off their strike before negotiations.
“By indicating and asking us to call off our strike before negotiations begin, what it means is that the government side is not ready to continue negotiations unless the teacher unions call off the strike. They have held all organised labour hostage; this is a betrayal of trust.
“Right now since we are undesirable before they even walk us out of the meeting, we are walking out of the meeting ourselves,” NAGRAT President, Angel Carbonu told the media.
The meeting was attended by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, and the Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Bright Wereko-Brobbey, as well as other government officials.