By Tabora Bojang
The national executive committee of the Gambia Teachers’ Union has warned that teachers could go on strike again if government fails to swiftly look into their demands.
Reading from a prepared statement, Essa Sowe, the deputy general secretary of the union, said following government’s “disregard of numerous concerns and follow-ups” on the improvement of teachers’ working conditions after six months of engagements, the leadership of the GTU has no choice but to take this line of action.
He disclosed that among their demands is the payment of their allowances promised by the Finance minister.
He said the national executive committee of the union holds the view that half-a-year is enough time for the promised allowances to be paid.
Mr Sowe said the union is now calling on the government to increase residential and house rent allowances, resolve the anomaly of disparities in residential allowances for supervisors and supervised, timely payment of salaries of new graduates from the college and university and full payment of arrears from the third term on the School Improvement Grant.
“The national committee wishes to advise that if no permanent solution is presented to them by midday on Friday, they will be left with no option but to advise members of the GTU to stay away from their duties in protest, until the situation is satisfactorily addressed”.
