Education

Call-Off Strike: Government to Teacher Unions as Negotiation Starts July 12th

Call-Off Strike: Government to Teacher Unions as Negotiations Starts July 8th

The government has appealed to teachers to call off the industrial strike in a letter dated 8th July 2022.

The said letter, sighted by Ghana Education News indicated that the government representative, the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, Finance, Education, and National Security and Organized Labour held a meeting to see the way forward in regard to the Cost Of Living Allowance (COLA) industrial strike declared by the teacher unions.

According to a letter from the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, the government has taken note of the demand by Organized Labour for a 20% Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) in the light of the current economic conditions prevailing in the country.

The letter indicated that the government of Ghana was committed to engaging Organized Labour to find a lasting solution to the problem. Although the government has appealed to teachers to call off the strike, teacher unions are yet to respond to the call.

The striking pre-tertiary teacher unions have been on strike since July 4th. The parties are per the letter expected to meet on Tuesday, 12th of July at 2 pm to begin negotiations.

The teacher unions have called on all members to follow the orders regarding the strike after it found out that some union members were still at post. Investigations by the teacher unions revealed that

a. Most TEWU staff in the Pre-tertiary institution were still at post and carrying out their official duties.

b. Some Heads of Schools are coercing teachers to invigilate mock examinations.

c. Workshops are being organized by some District Directors and Heads of institutions.

d. Sporting and reading festivals are being organized and supervised by teachers.

The content of the letter has not changed the narrative as far as the posture of the teacher unions is concerned. The earlier meeting called by the government ended inconclusively. The leaders of the four unions argued that the government only asked them to call off the strike which they are not ready to do until their demands are met and that, they (GNAT, NAGRAT, CCT-GH and TEWU were ready to meet the government any time they are invited.

Below is the full letter… Call-Off Strike: Government to Teacher Unions as Negotiations Start July 12th

STATEMENT ISSUED AT THE END OF AN EMERGENCY MEETING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND ORGANISED LABOUR

The Government, represented by the Ministers for Employment and Labour Relations, Finance,

Education and National Security on one hand; and Organised Labour on the other, held an Emergency Meeting on Friday 8th July 2022, at the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations Conference Room on the afore-mentioned subject matter.

The Parties wish to state that:

1. Government has taken note of the demand by Organised Labour for 20% Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) in the light of the current economic conditions prevailing in the country

2. Government is committed to engaging Organised Labour to find a lasting solution to same

3. Govemment has appealed to the Teacher Unions to call off their ongoing industrial action.

In the light of the foregoing, the Parties have resolved to reconvene on Tuesday 12th July 2022 at 2pm, to begin negotiations on the demand by Organised Labour.