The National Labour Commission(NLC) has called on the government to punish members of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) for embarking on an illegal strike.
CETAG declared a strike on August 1, 2023, over the government’s failure to implement “negotiated” conditions of service for its members.
According to the Executive Secretary of NLC, Ofosu Asamoah, CETAG’s strike and refusal to rescind their decision is unlawful.
He said this gives their employers grounds to withhold salaries or terminate the appointment of striking members.
“The commission has told you, don’t go, and you went, and it says stop what you are doing, and you say you won’t. Defying the orders of the commission is an unlawful act.
“And then their employers will also have the right to punish them for proceeding with this illegal strike. It is a provision in the law that indeed, if you are on strike, which is unlawful or illegal, you will not be paid for that period and that the leaders are held accountable,” he said.
Meanwhile, the President of CETAG, Prince Obeng Himah, has said that they are unfazed by any threat of punishment.
He insists their actions are legal because they followed all the necessary processes before embarking on the strike.
“Looking at what we have gone through, I think the members of CETAG are prepared to die on the cross of conviction that we have been sidelined and cheated for far too long,” Mr Himah stressed.