The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has threatened an indefinite strike if the government fails to resolve long-standing issues by December 31, 2024.
This conclusion is outlined in a news release made on December 23, 2024.
CETAG is concerned about the National Labour Commission’s (NLC) arbitration award made on May 2, 2023, which the government allegedly neglected to follow.
Despite showing good faith by suspending their strike on August 20, 2024, in response to appeals from key stakeholders such as the Vice President’s Office, the Minister for Employment, Labour Relations, and Pensions, and the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, the union claims the government has once again violated the August 19, 2024 agreement.
“The National Council reiterates that the Union will not accept excuses or purposeful violations of the agreement agreed by the Government.
The National Council will declare another indefinite strike action under section 159 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) if lingering concerns are not addressed by Tuesday, December 31, 2024, according to the release.
The National Council listed three primary issues as the basis for their decision to go on strike indefinitely.
“The employer failed to migrate teaching staff from colleges of education to affiliate universities’ pay structures within 20 months.”
Akrokerri College of Education staff have not received their 2023 book and research money.
“Government’s undue delay in paying the remaining 42 Colleges the one-month basic salary as compensation for all-year-round work done by CETAG members in 2022 as ordered by the NLC on 2nd May 2023.”
CETAG urged key parties, including the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, the Principals of Colleges of Education, the Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana, and the Transition Teams’ Education Sub-Committee, to intervene and resolve the deadlock.
The union emphasized that fast resolution of these concerns is important to preserving the academic calendar and providing quality teacher education.