The three pre-tertiary teacher unions have officially called off their nationwide strike.
The unions, which are the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT) began the strike on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.
The collective decision to suspend the strike follows the National Labour Commission (NLC) obtaining an interim injunction to halt the industrial action, thereby facilitating the commencement of negotiations.
The President of the Coalition of Concerned Teachers, Ghana, King Ali Awudu in a statement on April 2, 2024, underscored the necessity for their employers to engage in negotiations to address their concerns.
“As law-abiding citizens and having respect for the court, we hereby declare the strike that was called on 20th March 2024 off. We ask all our members and teachers of pre-tertiary education in this country to resume work with immediate effect”.
“We continue to ask the employer-led by the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations to commence negotiations this afternoon, today April 2 2024. So we can expedite the negotiations and come to a conclusion to forestall any other happenings in the future,” he added.
The unions attributed their strike to the government’s negligence in addressing their conditions of service.
In a statement released on March 20, 2024, the unions highlighted grievances such as ongoing withholding of teachers’ salaries, unilateral changes to timetables without consulting the unions, and delays in the distribution of laptops to teachers.
“The distribution of laptops to all teachers is of concern. The rampant changes in the school calendar without recourse to negotiation with the teacher unions are affecting the smooth operation of the service. Also, the blockage of teachers’ salaries by the Office of the Special Prosecutor without recourse to the laid-down procedures is a major worry”.
“In the light of the above circumstances and given the delays and unfulfilled promises on the part of the employer and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, as well as threats from the rank and file of our members, we, the pre-tertiary teacher unions, do stand with our members and hereby declare a nationwide industrial action effective today, Wednesday, March 20, 2024, to press home our demand,” the previous statement indicated.
Following the declaration of the nationwide strike, the National Labour Commission (NLC) summoned the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the three striking teacher unions to appear before the Commission on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.
Moreover, the NLC later ordered the striking teachers to call off the strike while the negotiation process continued.
I suppose it is not over. We may restrike if the negotiations doesn’t go well