By Garmah Never Lomo,garmahlomo@gmail.com
Hundreds of Teachers of the twenty-four within the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS) run by the Liberian government have begun a go slow action in demand of their salary arrears. And this comes just weeks after public health workers ended a similar strike action across the country.
The MCSS Teachers are said to over one thousand two hundred.
In an interview with the President of MCSS Teachers Association, Mr. Vito Garway said on Monday, October 14, 2019 that they were mandated by their colleagues to stage a go slow action, in order to call the attention of government to their demands.
But so far, authorities of the MCSS and the Education Ministry are yet to react to this latest development.
Mr. Garway said go slow action is based on three issues which the government has failed to address and some of which are delay in their two months salaries from August to September and also they are yet to receive their October salaries.
The MCSS Teacher Association President explained that their salaries have deducted by government to pay their insurance bill but government has since refused to pay the insurance company, which is depriving them receiving from medical treatment. They also can’t long have access to medical treatment only government refusal to pay the insurance company when their salaries have been deducted for that purpose.
He further added that 106 teacher did not receive their salaries in month of July and one of teacher’s children was put out of school just for L$3.000.00, only because that teacher has not receive her salaries.
The head of the MCSS Teacher Association told this Reporter that the insurance company has been complaining that they have not received their money. And he said the issue of insurance is their right and they demanding government to give what rightfully belongs to them.
Mr. Garway also disclosed that another reasons for their go slow is due being deducted by the government for the purpose of the association has not been given to the association for it intended purpose.
The MCSS Teachers Association has questioned how will their children be in school when government has refused to pay their salaries, adding that also support the harmonization process by government.
They are said to have received thirty-five percent of their salaries in Liberian dollar in July remaining the sixty five in USD which the government said they don’t have USD, but rather they will received the balance in Liberian dollars which is yet to be seen.
Mr. Garway cautioned his colleagues not to be moved by text messages from any higher authority, neither any information on the radio nor behind the house meeting, until their demands are met.
If their demand are met, the MCSS Teacher they will explore other peaceful means of getting redress through the radio or other medium of communication.