Teachers COLA Demo is at the crossroads today as pre-tertiary teacher unions (GNAT, NAGRAT, CCT-GH, and TEWU) who have been on strike since July 4th, 2022 will be in a crunch negotiation meeting with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and other stakeholders.
The meeting which was at the request of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission is expected to start at 2:00 pm and would be held at the Ministry of Health (Conference Room). It will usher the ongoing strike into the negotiating stage for the COLA.
Teachers COLA Demo at the Crossroads Today as Strike Enters Day 8 With Negotiations
The Commencement of Negotiations on the demand by Organized Labour today and the outcomes of the meeting will determine the next line of action of the aggrieved teachers who have been at for a week and a day now.
The teacher unions have remained focused and united for the common goal of ensuring their Cost of Living Allowance demands are met. This is the first time, in many years, that teacher unions have been resolute in their quest.
While they are demanding a 20% COLA, it is predicted that they are likely to compromise their stand if government suggests a lower percentage of between 10% and 15%.
Anything lower than this will not excite teachers, who are hopeful that their leaders will do a good bargain on their behalf.
Should the government’s representatives at today’s meeting come without any convincing offer for the four teacher unions and their members, expect the ongoing strike to continue unabated. In the past, the government has secured court injunctions to twist the hand of teachers and compelled them to resume their duties however, with what transpired between the government and UTAG, teacher unions have learned a lot of lessons from that and may deploy similar tactics to press home their demands.
The government also needs to be reminded of the prolonged UTAG strike and its impact on education and do what is necessary to avoid any such situation occurring. WASSCE and BECE candidates who are preparing for the International and National examinations to be held in August and October are patiently waiting to see their teachers back at work. A further show of power by the government will only delay the return of teachers to the classroom.
READ: Fix these 4 issues before we strike again -Teachers to GES
In a related development, a cross-section of teachers has started calling on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to ensure four other issues of interest to the teaching fraternity are quickly addressed before they hit the government with another legitimate strike just after the COLA issues are addressed.
The four issues are
Teachers are looking up to their leaders as the Teachers COLA Demo reaches the crossroads today at the negotiation table.