Government Can Decide To Block Salaries of POTAG Members

Labour Expert, Austine Gammey has stated that government can decide to block the salaries of striking Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) even though their strike have been ruled as �not illegal� by law. According to him, the fact that one may have embarked on a legal strike does not mean they are entitled to their salaries for the period of strike. ��government can decide not pay POTAG even though they are on a legal strike, because from what I see government has a very solid case but it depends on how they would present it,� he said on Radio Gold�s �Tea Cup� program. Austine Gammey also lamented the fact that the POTAG strike has dragged on for too long because representatives of government in the process of arbitration have refused to do due consultation. ��It is a simple matter and people in authority must consult in order to help bring a closure to the issue. I know the relevant clauses to quote in other to support this case if I were the one handling it but it would not be fair to do so on radio,� he said. His comments come on the back of a claim by POTAG President, James Dugrah that the strike action which his association has embarked on since May this year to press home its demand for the payment of Book and Research Allowances was ruled as not illegal by a court of competent jurisdiction. To him, the strike is not illegal and any attempt to withhold the salaries of its members would result in another court action, but Austine Gammey believes it is not automatic that striking workers must be entitled to their salaries because of the fact that it has been ruled as not illegal. �Government can decide not to pay you even if your strike is not illegal,� he emphasized.