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| The taskforce committee for the group has called off the planned strike and urged its members to return to work until further notice (Photo Credit: GTU). |
By Ebrima Bah, freelance journalist
The Gambia
Teachers Union, GTU, was awaken to active business on the welfare of teachers
by disgruntled members of the union under the banner 'Teachers for Change'.
The group, which emerged through social media platforms, announced its plan to prolong the Christmas
school holiday until they receive positive attention from the government.
The
meeting which took place at the Region Education Directorate in Brikama on Thursday
brought top management of the teachers governing body to intense negotiation
with the non-protocol oriented group of teachers.
In his
address, chairman of the Teachers for Change, Abubacarr Janko, said teachers
from various regions across the country have agreed to carry on a sit-down strike
starting on the 8th of January until their demands are responded to.
The
conditions to restore teaching and learning include salary increment,
full payment of double shift allowance, payment of hardship allowances to
teacher trainees, end to late payments, and provision of identity cards to
teachers.
This
movement of mainly young teachers made its decision without the involvement of
the official teacher governing body, on notion that the union is not efficient
and does not respect the welfare of its members.
President
of The Gambia Teachers' Union, Matin Gomez, endorsed all demands made by members
of the teaching fraternity but quickly appealed to them to employ the right
means to achieve them their goals.
He also
acknowledged the fact that membership of the union continues to grow in size
but his administration is confronted with structural loopholes.
“We are
doing everything possible to improve the working condition of our members and
that some of your demands are already on the union’s development agenda.”
Mr Gomez
noted that the teachers union has in the past been supportive to government in
the timely payment of teachers’ salaries and allowances through the credit
union with hope of a reciprocal relationship.
Deputy
Secretary General of the union, Essa Sowe commended the leadership and members
of the Teachers for Change for their eventual involvement of the union on the
demands.
He
informed the meeting that, his office has been busy pushing for interest of
teachers but there is yet to solid response from the new government.
After
thorough review of the conditions for the planned strike, Mr Sowe appealed to
the teachers to give the union time to engage the government through the
ministries of education on the demands.
“So if
the demands are basis for the strike, Monday 8th January is too near for a
response to the demands due to the numerous processes involved in it,” he
stated.
The
taskforce committee for the group has called off the planned strike and urged
its members to return to work until further notice.
“All
members loyal to our struggle are urged to respect the decision. The taskforce
is convinced that the Gambia Teachers Union (GTU) will continue to pursue our
demands to the authorities concerned and send us feedbacks,” says Abdoulie
Jallow, Secretary General to the group.
In a
similar instance, The Education Students of the University of the Gambia (UTG) are
due to meet the management of the Gambia Teachers Union Credit co-operative
Credit Union (GTUCCU) to settle key matters of concern to teachers on Wednesday
at the Brikama campus.
They are
expected to discuss the recent increment of closing balance from D4, 000 to D6,
000, and complexities in loan transactions.
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