POTAG resumes indefinite strike over Single Spine

Details

Category: The ClassRoom

Created on Sunday, 27 May 2012 00:00

Hits: 4609

POTAG resumes indefinite strike over Single Spine

The Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) is embarking on an indefinite strike over what it describes as the feet dragging pace at which issues pertaining to the final stage of their migration to the Single Spine Salary Structure have been handled.

A release signed by the General Secretary for the association, Oswald Atiga, Sunday said out of the 25 functions they perform, they are suspending only three which are teaching, project supervision, and invigilation of examinations.

According to POTAG, its members shall only return to classroom when the single spine salary hits members' accounts.

Read the full statement for the reasons POTAG attributes to their strike action. RESUMPTION OF SUSPENDED STRIKE

The Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) wishes to bring to your attention its displeasure and dissatisfaction at the feet dragging pace at which issues pertaining to the final stages of its migration to the single spine are being handled hence have resumed their suspended strike action effective May 28,2012 until the single spine hits members accounts.

Out of the 25 functions we perform, we are suspending teaching, project supervision and invigilation of Examinations.

{sidebar id=10 align=right}The reasons for our dissatisfaction are as follows:

1. Under the auspices of CORP, i.e. the Conference of Rectors of Polytechnics, all Polytechnic Finance Officers, their Payroll officers, the entire Leadership of POTAG, and representatives from FWSC met at EXCELSA HOTEL in Kumasi from the 11th to the 13th of April, 2012 to conclude the mapping exercise, a crucial component of the migration process on to the single spine. The mapping process was concluded and the data subsequently handed over to the FWSC for further scrutiny on the 14th of April, 2012. Our membership was expectant that they could receive their first Single Spine Salary by the end of April, 2012 but it was explained that May 2012 looked practically feasible, a message which POTAG hesitantly accepted.

2. On the 2nd of May 2012, i.e. two (2) weeks after the FWSC had received the data, the Leadership of POTAG made a follow up to the offices of the FWSC. It was there and then that the Leadership was told to provide fresh bio-data of our entire membership across the ten (10) Polytechnics to the Commission by the 8th of May, 2012 which we duly complied with. In deed we sat there for almost 3hours for that Letter to be written to us.

3. The National Leadership of POTAG was subsequently surprised to hear a false news report on Joy FM at its 6 o’clock a.m. news bulletin on the 14th of May, 2012 to the effect that the FWSC had received bio-data for only 5 Polytechnic. Upon a follow-up to the offices of the FWSC again on the same 14th of May, 2012 the FWSC shockingly acknowledged having received the data from all ten (10)Polytechnics and indicated that the news carried in the morning by the radio station was false. The Commission even demonstrated its commitment to retract the story and correct the impression created. Subsequently an understanding was reached between POTAG and the Commission that POTAG members would receive their first single spine salary by the end of May 2012 though it would be delayed for 2 or more weeks. This information was subsequently communicated to our members.

4. The leadership of POTAG then followed up to the Ministry of Finance that same day and met with Dr.Alhassan Iddrisu, Director of Real Sector Division,who after a few calls re-iterated the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning’s resolve to expedite the payment of the single spine salaries of Polytechnic Teachers by the end of May 2012 but acknowledged it would delay. This understanding was duly communicated to our membership. Members have remained expectant, knowing a delayed single spine salary for May 2012 was guaranteed.

5. Upon a request from the Controller and Accountant General’s Department, POTAG even gave its consent to the anticipated delay in the payment of May 2012 salary through a letter to the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD, dated 23rd May, 2012.

6. Information received by POTAG leadership from the Deputy Controller (FMS) at the Controller and Accountant General’s Department indicate that the final authorization from the Ministry of Finance had not come and so old salaries will still be paid for the month of May 2012. We particularly take exception to this because it contravenes the understanding we had with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP), FWSC and the CAGD.

7. The information that old salaries will be paid for the month of May 2012 has caused irreparable anxiety among our members. There is a general feeling among our members of a calculated attempt on the part of all these institutions above mentioned to unnecessarily and unduly delay the payment of the new salaries to our members.

8. Reliable information even available to POTAG indicates that members will not even get their single spine salaries by June. At an emergency Congress of POTAG, it was resolved as follows:

a. That POTAG members are still waiting for their new salaries for the month of May 2012 even if it will take them 2 to 3 weeks to prepare.

b. That POTAG has provided all the necessary information needed for a successful migration and is not ready for this cat and mouse game.

c. POTAG is by this press release informing you that we are resuming our suspended strike action and members shall only return to the classroom when the single spine salary hits members accounts.

From: Richard Nii Abbey/Myjoyonline.com

No comments

ANUC Builds Satellite Campus

Details

Category: The NoticeBoard

Created on Friday, 25 May 2012 00:00

Hits: 5792

ANUC Builds Satellite Campus

No comments

Pastor Defiles Girl, 15

Details

Category: Youth News

Created on Saturday, 26 May 2012 00:00

Hits: 4269

Pastor Defiles Girl, 15

A 28-year-old pastor of the Assin Awisem Spiritual Miracle Church in the Assin North District, Stephen Mensah, has been charged before the Assin Fosu District Magistrate Court for defiling and impregnating a 15-year-old junior high school student.

{sidebar id=10 align=right}According to the facts of the case, the pastor took advantage of the girl after an all night in the church to commit the offence.

The court was told that in January, this year, after an all night service officiated by the pastor had ended deep in the night, the pastor convinced the girl whose house was far away from the church to pass the night with him in his house.

The victim obliged and accompanied the pastor to his house where the accused gave the victim a separate room to sleep.

The prosecution said after some time, Mensah went to invite the victim to join him in his room as the cold night was not conducive for her to sleep alone.

Mensah, whose wife was not home at the time, took advantage of the girl and slept with her.

The victim told the court that Mensah slept with her on six occasions resulting in her three-month old pregnancy.

The pregnancy was detected by the victim’s mother in April, this year, who informed the victim’s grandfather.

Mensah admitted the offence in his caution statement to the police and was therefore charged with the offence and arraigned.

Source: The Mirror/Ghana

No comments

Foreign Universities Flock Ghana

Details

Category: The NoticeBoard

Created on Friday, 25 May 2012 00:00

Hits: 6666

Foreign Universities Flock Ghana

{sidebar id=10 align=right}Under the auspices of BCIE, an independent UK educational agency, 14 universities from the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia and parts of Asia, will storm the La Palm Beach Hotel in Accra from June 23–24, 2012 to offer on-the-spot admission, among others, to Ghanaian students who are desirous of taking post-graduate studies abroad.

Martha Quainoo Amankwah, Office Manager of BCIE Ghana, who disclosed this to the media in Accra Tuesday, said her outfit expects to admit over 300 students at the 8th education summit this year.

Some universities, she mentioned, will be offering scholarships to students based on courses they might want to read abroad.

The BCIE network currently has 11 offices, Ghana (1), Pakistan (2), Nigeria (6), Kenya (1) and UK (1).

It offers advice on universities/colleges to attend, which courses to apply for, applications (UCAS or direct); cost of studying abroad, study/work options, accommodation and visa applications.

According to Mrs Amankwah, some of BCIE partner schools from Australia are Curtin International College; Curtin University, Sydney; EIBT, Adelaide; Edith Cowan University; Flinders University; La Trobe University; MIBT, Deakin University, Melbourne and QIBT, Griffith University.

From the UK, its partner schools include Southampton University, Brunel University, University of Glasgow, University of Aberdeen, Bournemouth University, De Montfort University and University of Leicester.

Canadian schools include Fraser International College, University of The Fraser Valley, International College Manitoba, Okanagan College, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Simon Fraser University and Thompson Rivers University.

Its partners, which offer distance learning, include Bangor University, Glamorgan University, Derby, Sheffield Hallam University, Northumbria and De Montfort University. Students will be given opportunity to meet with representatives for interaction and receive counselling on visa application.

Source: Business Desk/D-Guide

No comments