Tru News Report has learned that disgruntled Ghanaian teachers, represented by their various unions, have officially notified the government of their planned nationwide strike starting on March 20, 2024, to push for their demands.
One of the issues they are raising is the government’s failure to address critical concerns affecting them. The teachers have outlined three main challenges they are facing as the reasons behind their decision to go on strike.
These challenges include the delay in negotiating the collective agreement, the absence of a service scheme, and other important matters like the unresolved distribution of laptops to teachers.
See below for their press release:
We have assembled you here this morning, to help carry our message and sentiments to the authorities-that-be at the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, and all who care about the education enterprise in the country, and all who have the concerns of teachers and learners at heart.
In recent times, we the Pre-tertiary Teacher Unions – GNAT, NAGRAT, and the CCT-Gh., have raised our voices over and over again on the following issues with the employer and asked for resolution, failure of which we hinted advising ourselves:
1. DELAY WITH NEGOTIATION OF THE COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT
It would interest you to know that following the expiration of the Collective Agreement in 2023, negotiation of the new Collective Agreement should have been completed on or before February 29, 2024, but this has not been so. Thus, the new Collective Agreement stands un-negotiated, and we raised this concern in our letter to the Director General, GES, dated 29th February, 2024, and also informed the National Labour Commission (NLC). As we gather here now, the issue is still outstanding!
2. SCHEME OF SERVICE
We have also drawn the attention of the Director General of the GES to the fact that the Ghana Education Service does not have a functional Scheme of Service for Teachers. Thus, a much cogent and appropriate one, which takes care of all requirements in the teaching profession needs to be developed for us. We have cried over this to no avail!
3. EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO THE TEACHERS ARE THE FOLLOWING ISSUES:
The inability of the Government and the Service to complete the distribution of the laptops to all teachers is of concern. The rampant changes of the school calendar without recourse to negotiation with the Teacher Unions is affecting the smooth operation of the Service. Also, the blockage of Teachers salaries by the Office of Special Prosecutor without recourse to laid down procedures is a major worry.
CALL TO ACTION:
In the light of the above circumstances and given the delays, unfulfilled promises on the part of the Employer and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, (FWSC) and also 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 (strike) effective today, Wednesday, 20th March, 2024, to press home our demands. Thank you.
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