The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has launched an indefinite strike, beginning Thursday, January 2, 2025.
This decision was revealed following an Emergency National Council meeting on Monday, December 30, 2024, which cited the government’s failure to address long-standing issues despite several engagements and arbitration rulings.
In a statement, CETAG voiced dissatisfaction with the government’s continuous violation of signed agreements and delays in implementing arbitration verdicts granted by the National Labour Commission.
The union stated that attempts to settle the concerns through negotiation had failed, leaving them with little alternative but to take this severe move.
According to CETAG, the government has failed to comply with the NLC’s compulsory arbitration ruling dated May 2, 2023.
This award ordered essential activities, including the migration of teaching personnel of colleges of education to the pay system of their affiliated universities, which is still completing after 20 months.
CETAG also stated that the government has postponed paying one month’s basic salary as compensation for all-year-round work performed by employees in 2022. The payment, which was part of the arbitration ruling, has yet to be made to 42 colleges of education.
The union also cited the lengthy delay in sending fresh appointment letters based on staff audits and service plans at affiliate universities. These letters, which are critical to the migration process, were supposed to be sent out by October 2024 but have yet to arrive.
CETAG also noted that top-up book and research allowances for workers at Akrokerri College of Education for 2023 had not been paid. The union cited this as a clear illustration of the government’s failure to fulfill its commitments.
The statement accused the NLC of failing to execute its own directives, despite several letters from CETAG requesting the commission to press the government to take action.
CETAG’s leadership emphasized that its members would not return to work until all remaining issues were addressed.
“This declaration of an indefinite strike action is in accordance with section 159 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651),” according to a statement.
“Members of the union shall not under any circumstance return to the colleges to undertake any official duties including teaching, and supervision of project work and macro-teaching, until the last pesewa is paid into our accounts,” according to CETAG.
The walkout is expected to interrupt academic operations at institutions of education across the country, with substantial implications for teacher training programs.
CETAG has urged the government and relevant parties to address their issues immediately, warning that the industrial action will continue indefinitely unless their requests are addressed.
