Tema, Nov. 9, GNA - The Tema branch of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) on Wednesday asked its members to exercise restraint and remain in the classroom as they wait for the 2006 budget to announce improved remunerations for them.

Mr Kwame Boni, member of the Association in charge of salaries, as well as terms and conditions of service, said they were optimistic that government would address teachers' grievances in the budget, failure of which they would advise themselves.

He said this at a meeting with GNAT members in Tema to brief them on the progress of salary negotiation between the Association's leaders and government.

Mr Boni said the GNAT negotiation team had proposed a minimum salary of five dollars a day and described as baseless, rumours that they were demanding 25 percent increase.

=93We are not asking for percentages but have proposed a new salary structure that would cater for the needs of teachers=94, he said, adding that its unacceptable for a Director-General of an organisation to receive 30 million cedis per month while the counterpart in the Education Service receives five million cedis.

He stated that GNAT had not declared any strike action because it was still negotiating and that it was rather the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) which asked its members to stay away from the classrooms.

However, this does not mean that GNAT members were not on strike, he quickly added.

The Regional Secretary of GNAT, Mr Simpson Kofi Aduamoah, reminded members of the Association that the country's labour laws had changed, so there was need for them to act according to the law. He advised them to be patient and comply with the rules by continuing with their duties until the budget is read.