NAGRAT FUND TO BEGIN THIS MONTH (PAGE 17, JULY 6)

THE implementation of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) Fund will begin by the close of this month.
The fund will, among other objectives provide long-term financial assistance to meet the retirement needs of both current and future NAGRAT members. It has such components as a Provident Fund, Mortgage Fund for housing purposes and Welfare Fund for the purposes of assisting NAGRAT members to acquire cars, furniture and other needs.
The Vice President of the NAGRAT, Mr Christian Addai-Poku, who made this known at a teachers’ durbar in Tamale, called on members of the association to contribute meaningfully to the fund to enhance their well- being.
He explained that deductions from salaries of beneficiaries would begin at the end of this month. According to him, the fund would be financed by contributions from membership dues, monthly contributions for pensions, investments, among other sources.
The Vice President, therefore, observed that the durbar was to help collate concerns and views of the members regarding the implementation of the fund, educate them on the nitty-gritty of the fund as well as update them on current trends in the labour market, particularly salary negotiations .
Mr Addai-Poku entreated members to help contribute meaningfully to the growth of the association by embracing such initiatives as the fund, which he noted, would ultimately enhance their living conditions.
He intimated that the Gh¢930 being paid to pensioners under the welfare fund was phasing out.
The President of the NAGRAT, Mr Kwami Alorvi, for his part, urged teachers to come together to champion their cause.
He, however, bemoaned the meager allowances being paid to teachers who worked tirelessly and were committed to undertake such national exercises as the polio immunisation exercise.
Mr Alorvi noted that if the trend continued, teachers would soon shy away from such activities which would consequently affect the nation .
The President further explained that “I am not against teachers engaging in national exercises, but they go there because they are poorly paid; yet when they sacrifice, they are equally not paid well”.
Touching on salary negotiations, Mr Alorvi indicated that the Labour Commission had met on the issue four times already, and that proposals had been sent to the government regarding teachers’ demands.
He stated that this time around, individual associations would not fight for salary increases on their own, but all associations would make their demands through the Labour Union.