The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has declared an indefinite strike, effective Thursday, January 2nd, 2025.
This action follows a failure by the National Labour Commission (NLC) and the government to address their long-standing grievances, despite several notices of planned industrial action.
According to CETAG, the strike stems from the government’s “continuous violation of their signed agreements and roadmaps” regarding the compulsory arbitration award issued by the NLC on May 2nd, 2023.
The association noted that numerous meetings with relevant stakeholders, including the Office of the Vice President, the Ministry of Employment, Labour Relations and Pensions (MELRP), Ministry of Finance (MoF), Ministry of Education (MoE), Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), and the Conference of Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF), have failed to produce a resolution.
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In the statement released to all Zonal Chairmen, CETAG outlined several key issues behind the strike. These include:
- Non-compliance with the NLC Arbitration Award: CETAG revealed that the employer has “willfully failed to comply” with the NLC’s arbitration award from May 2, 2023, which they say is a breach of sections 167 (2 & 3) and section 64 (4) of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).
- Delayed Migration to University Pay Structure: The association stated that the government has failed, over a 20-month period, to finalize the migration of college of education teaching staff to the pay structures of affiliate universities.
- Unpaid Compensation: CETAG members are demanding payment of a one-month basic salary for all-year-round work done in 2022, as ordered by the NLC. They state that 42 colleges remain unpaid.
- Delayed Issuance of Appointment Letters: The union also reported that new appointment letters, based on staff audits and affiliate universities’ schemes of service, have been unduly delayed, preventing the required migration of staff by the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD).
- Outstanding Book and Research Allowances: The statement highlighted that the 2023 top-up for book and research allowances is yet to be paid to staff at Akrokerri College of Education.
- NLC Inertia: CETAG criticized the NLC for its inaction, claiming that the commission has failed to enforce its own arbitration awards, despite multiple written requests from the union.
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The statement further emphasized CETAG’s position on the matter, saying, “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.”
The association stated that the strike was “in accordance with section 159 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).”
CETAG has directed all zonal chairmen to ensure full compliance from all colleges within their respective jurisdictions.
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Meanwhile, the various colleges are set to resume the 2024/2025 academic year activities on 13th January 2025.
This industrial action will definitely disrupt the 2024/2025 academic activities.
We urge you to keep following Coleman Publications as we will keep you updated on any new developments.
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