Gov’t ready for negotiation on Teachers’ strike

By Pa Modou Cham

The President of The Gambia revealed that his government is open to negotiate with the teachers planning for sit down strike, as they request for multiple claims. 

He said that his government’s stance on a group of teachers strike for pay rise is clear: “We want to negotiate this through the teachers’ union. They are the body that is responsible for teachers’ welfare.” 

He expressed his government’s commitment to dialogue and following due process in bringing solution to problems confronting all. 

Recently, Teacher For Change (TFC) – a group of teachers who strive to fight for a common goal with the objective of addressing their problems were said will embark on another sit-down strike in connection with demands they tabled before authorities.

Parts of their demands include increment of their salaries, issuing of identify card, no delay in the payment of their allowances and also timely payment of their provincial hardship allowances.

Following Vice President Comments on the issue recently, The TFC members explained that no form of threat or intimidation from the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) or any institution will stop them from holding their strike.

It was also confirmed that more teachers have joined the sit-down strike championed by TFC after words of threat were issued by the vice president and minister of Women’s Affairs, Ousainou Darboe, during his meeting with the executive of TFC at his office at State House.

Mr. Darboe threatened that if teacher strikers fail to report to school effective Sept. 28, their services will be terminated and be replaced with retired teachers. However, his threat is proving to be disastrous as more teachers are now joining the strike instead. 

However, the president called on the aggrieved group of teachers to work with the teachers’ union and negotiate with government to reach a conclusion on their concerns.