Call off strike – NLC orders striking teacher unions

In a decisive move aimed at quelling a growing educational unrest, the National Labour Commission (NLC) has issued a directive to the three leading teacher unions in Ghana, instructing them to immediately call off their ongoing strike.

The unions, namely the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT), initiated a nationwide strike on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, citing a series of unaddressed grievances concerning their conditions of service.

The core issues fueling the strike, as outlined by the unions, include the persistent delay in the payment of teachers’ salaries, unilateral modifications to teaching timetables without prior consultations with the unions, and protracted delays in the provision of laptops, which are essential for modern teaching methodologies.

The teacher unions argue that these issues represent a neglect of their welfare and a disregard for the essential services they provide, compelling them to resort to a strike as a means of drawing government attention to their plight.

However, in a swift response, the NLC, through a statement signed by its Chairperson, Justice Kwabena Asuman-Adu, on Thursday, called for an immediate cessation of the strike.

The NLC’s directive is grounded in legal stipulations, specifically citing Section 133 (1) of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), which the commission believes the unions have violated by declaring the strike.

The NLC’s intervention underscores the importance of adhering to legal frameworks in resolving labor disputes and emphasizes the need for dialogue and negotiation over unilateral action.

According to the NLC, the teacher unions’ decision to strike did not comply with Section 159 of Act 651, which likely pertains to the procedures that must be followed before a strike can be legally declared.

By ordering the cessation of the strike, the NLC aims to facilitate a return to the negotiation table, where the grievances of the teachers can be addressed through constructive dialogue with the government and other relevant stakeholders.

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This development signals the NLC’s commitment to maintaining industrial peace and ensuring that disputes within the labor sector are resolved in accordance with established legal frameworks.

The commission’s order also serves as a reminder of the need for all parties involved in labor disputes to adhere to the requisite legal procedures before taking actions that could significantly impact public services, such as education.

As the situation unfolds, it is imperative for both the government and the teacher unions to engage in meaningful dialogue aimed at resolving the underlying issues that prompted the strike.

Ensuring the welfare of teachers is crucial not only for their satisfaction but also for the overall quality of education in the country, highlighting the need for a swift and amicable resolution to the current impasse.

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