The National Labour Commission (NLC) has ordered the leadership of the three striking teacher unions to call off their strike with immediate effect.
The NLC in its December 10, 2019 press statement signed by its Chairman, Andy Kwabena Asamoah,described the industrial action as illegal, accused the Unions of failing to notify the Commission before embarking on their strike.
The teacher unions — the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT) declared a strike December 5, 2019, after a series of failed engagements with the government on Legacy Arrears incurred between 2012 and 2016.
The teachers say they suspect that the arrears have been verified and approved for payment by the Controller and Accountant General’s internal audit unit, yet the monies have not been released.
The strike which took effect from Monday, December 9, had members of the union abandoning their post, leaving pupils in the care of national service personnel and headteachers.
Internal ‘Sabotage’
Despite the strike declared by three teacher unions, some public schools have seen teachers reporting to their posts for teaching duties.
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT) declared the strike starting today over the non-payment of their arrears.
At the Archbishop Porter Girls’ Senior High School in Sekondi-Takoradi for instance, the Headmistress of the school, Charlotte Asiedu Musah, told Citi News that classes have been ongoing as the teachers’ unions were yet to inform the school about any strike.
When she went on her rounds, she said: “teachers were in the classrooms teaching.”
GES’ Threats
The Ghana Education Service (GES) issued a subtle threat to teachers who are currently striking over the government’s failure to pay salary arrears owed them.
The Chairman of the GES Council, Michael Nsowah, who issued the threat in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem Tuesday, said should the teachers continue to their industrial action, the state will be forced to employ new teachers.
Education Minister’s Position on Strike
The Minister of Education accused the teachers of allowing the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to influence them.
Dr Mathew Opoku- Prempeh claimed credible information available to him suggested that some NDC members met with some teacher groups to plan the strike.
MoE PRO’s Position on Strike
The Public Relations Manager of the Ministry of Education, Mr Ekow Vincent Assafual has said that Teacher Unions cannot declare strike for all teachers since Government did not owe all teachers under the Ghana Education Service (GES).
Responding to the representative of the Teachers Unions on Joy TV morning News on 9th December 2019, the PRO said, most of the teachers are going to school because they have been paid by Government.
But in a directive to the striking teachers, the Chairperson for the Commission, Andy Kwabena Asamoah, said the ongoing nationwide strike was in contravention of section 159 of the Labour Act 2003 and Act 651.
A copy of the directive is published below:
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