Teacher unions have issued an ultimatum to the Ghana Education Service (GES), Ministry of Education, and other relevant authorities to address the challenges faced by Ghanaian teachers else they will embark on a strike.
The National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers Ghana (CCT-Ghana) expressed frustration over the unpaid twelve months of Tier-2 pension arrears and raised concerns about the actions of the Public Services Commission (PSC).
They noted that despite previous warnings, issues between the GES and PSC have resurfaced, causing delays in teacher upgrading, reinstatements, rank reductions, and other professional advancements.
In a statement released on Wednesday, August 28, the unions urged swift intervention, warning that failure to resolve these issues by the deadline would result in a strike action.
“We call on the GES, the Ministry of Education, and all duty bearers to act swiftly to save the precarious and difficult situation currently confronting teachers by the close of Monday, September 16, 2024. If by the close of the said date we do not receive any favourable response, we shall determine the next line of action,” the statement read.
Below is the full release…
PRESS RELEASE
AGITATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES ON INDUSTRIAL PEACE
The Teacher Unions have observed with great concern the uneasy calm and agitations by teachers owing to the display of a lukewarm attitude to the directives by the National Labour Commission, NLC and the feet dragging by the government on the concerns of Teachers, which has culminated into serious anger and agitations at the grassroots. For the avoidance of doubt, the promises as captured in the SIGNED Collective Agreement, CA, on 24th May 2024, are as follows:
That one month after signing the CA, the Minister for Education would initiate the process of engaging the Teacher Unions for the commencement of negotiations on the Deprived Area Allowance.
That Promotion from Deputy Director (DD) to Director II (DII) and then to Director I (DI) to be resolved by September 2024.
That the GES would collaborate with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to ensure that the disparities in the salary levels of DD and below in the GES are corrected.
That it would keep the promise made to the NLC, to deliver the TM 1 laptops on the new deadline of August 31, 2024, and to ensure that this time round, every teacher whose money was deducted receives his/her laptop for the sake of peace in the industrial space.
Other Major Challenges Twelve (12) months arrears of our Tier-2 deductions
The activities of the Public Services Commission, PSC, of which we warned GES earlier, owing to the historical antecedents which led to H.E. Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo, directing the PSC, to exclude GES. The GES & PSC have started again, and the problems are worse than in the past. E. Delays in upgrading, difficulties in reinstatement, reduction of rank etc.
In view of the above, we call on the GES and Ministry of Education and all the duty bearers to act swiftly to save the precarious and difficult situation currently confronting Teachers by the close of Monday, September 16, 2024. If by the close of the said date we do not receive any favorable response, we shall determine the next line of action.
Thomas T. Musah, General Secretary, GNAT
Angel Cabonu, President, NAGRAT
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