FWSC Warns Striking Teachers of Possible Salary Deductions if Strike Continues
The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has warned that teachers participating in the ongoing nationwide strike could face salary deductions if the industrial action is deemed illegal and continues.
The warning was issued by the Chief Executive Officer of the FWSC, Dr George Smith-Graham, during an interview on GhanAkoma, as negotiations between the government and the pre-tertiary teacher unions remained unresolved.
Dr Smith-Graham said the Labour Act provides for workers who participate in an illegal strike to forfeit their remuneration for the period they remain away from work.
He stated: “If you go on an illegal strike, once it is illegal, every day you stay home, your salary will be deducted.”
The warning introduces a potentially serious financial consequence for teachers if the dispute is not resolved and the industrial action continues.
Teachers’ strike remains unresolved
The strike involves the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG).
According to the report, the three unions began the nationwide industrial action on September 25, 2026. Their concerns include outstanding promotion arrears, salary placement for promoted teachers and other conditions of service.
The dispute has continued despite negotiations involving the teacher unions, the FWSC and the Ghana Education Service.
A meeting held on Tuesday, October 6, reportedly ended without a final agreement, with further discussions expected as the parties continue efforts to settle the outstanding issues.
The unions have maintained their position that concrete action on their demands is required, rather than assurances alone, before the industrial action can be resolved.
FWSC gives October 9 target for resolving dispute
Dr Smith-Graham said government was hopeful of reaching an agreement with the teacher unions before Friday, October 9, to prevent the dispute from escalating.
He further indicated that if the strike remained in force by October 15, government could be compelled to take steps concerning salaries for the period teachers had stayed away from work.
The FWSC’s position therefore places renewed attention on the negotiations between government and the teacher unions, particularly as the parties work towards resolving the issues that triggered the strike.
The Commission has expressed hope that the ongoing discussions will produce an agreement before further measures concerning the strike and teachers’ salaries become necessary.
What the Labour Act means for striking teachers
The report cites Section 168(4) of Ghana’s Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), as providing that a worker who participates in an illegal strike may have their services terminated without notice for breach of contract or may forfeit remuneration for the period of the illegal strike.
The significance of the FWSC warning is therefore tied specifically to the legal status of the industrial action.
The Commission’s warning does not state that every striking teacher will automatically have a salary deduction. Rather, the reported position is that deductions could arise if the strike is deemed illegal and the conditions for applying the relevant provisions of the Labour Act are met.
That distinction is important because the salary warning is linked to the legal status and continuation of the strike.
Government’s proposed timeline on promotion arrears
The salary dispute is also connected to the outstanding promotion issues raised by the teacher unions.
According to the report, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu said government had committed to validating salary grades and paying outstanding promotion arrears for at least 51,000 eligible promoted teachers by October 16, 2026.
Despite that proposed timeline, the unions have continued their industrial action, with the report stating that they want concrete implementation and payment to address the dispute
The promotion-related issue has therefore remained central to the negotiations between the unions and government.
What happens next for teachers
The immediate focus is now on the continuing negotiations and whether the parties can reach an agreement before the timelines mentioned by the FWSC.
For teachers participating in the strike, the salary issue has become an additional concern following the FWSC’s warning that remuneration could be affected if the industrial action is considered illegal and continues.
The October 9 target mentioned by the FWSC and the October 15 point referenced in relation to possible salary measures are therefore dates to watch as government and the teacher unions continue their discussions.
For now, the dispute remains unresolved, and the FWSC has made clear that continued industrial action could have financial implications if the legal conditions for salary deductions are triggered.
