The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has directed the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) to call off their ongoing indefinite strike.
At a press conference on Friday, June 14, 2024, FWSC criticized CETAG’s decision to strike, characterizing it as an act of bad faith, especially in light of the government’s efforts to address their grievances.
The Chief Executive Officer of FWSC, Benjamin Arthur, explained that the government had shown good faith in addressing CETAG’s concerns, so the industrial action was unnecessary.
He highlighted the mutual benefits for the country and the educators in the colleges of education.
“The government has demonstrated goodwill towards this because we believe that it is mutually beneficial, and it will benefit this country that at least we do something for our colleagues who are teaching in the colleges of Education. The government means well.
“So we are calling on them to go back to the classroom to go and teach. This strike is out of bad faith,” Mr Arthur stated.
Another person who condemned CETAG’s strike was the President of the Conference of Principals of Colleges of Education, Professor Samuel Atintono.
Prof Atintono noted that CETAG’s decision to strike was unnecessary and disruptive to the students’ academic progress.
CETAG declared an indefinite nationwide strike on Friday, June 14, 2024, citing the government’s delay in implementing the National Labour Commission’s (NLC) Arbitral Award Orders and negotiated service conditions.
CETAG: CETAG Declares Indefinite Strike
This strike, which affects all 46 public colleges of education in Ghana, aims to pressure the government to meet CETAG’s demands.
In a statement dated Friday, June 14, 2024, CETAG disclosed that the strike is to guarantee the economic rights of its members under Article 24(1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and Section 10 (a) and (b) of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).
The association urged its members to indefinitely withdraw teaching and related services until their grievances are resolved.
“CETAG wishes to call on every member to immediately comply with this declaration by withdrawing teaching and related services indefinitely across all 46 public colleges of education until all the orders arising from the Compulsory Arbitration Awards and related concerns are fully implemented by way of payments to our members and implementations thereof. Thank you,” the statement added.
Story By Grace Tsotsoo Quaye