The National Labour Commission (NLC) yesterday ordered the three teacher unions to end their statewide industrial strike and return to the classroom while their grievances were settled.
The three teachers unions, the National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT) Ghana, announced the infinite strike at a joint press conference, citing an allegation of a delay in the negotiation of their terms of service, as well as the freezing of some of their members’ salaries by the Special Prosecutor’s office.
In a statement issued in Accra yesterday and signed by the NLC Chairperson, Mr Kwabena Asuman-Adu, the strike was not in accordance with section 159 of Act 651, which states that either party intending to take strike action or institute lockout must give written notice to the other party and the commission within seven days of failure to agree to refer the dispute to voluntary arbitration or termination of the proceedings.
It stated that the NLC, in accordance with Section 133(1) of the Labour Act of 2003 (Act 651), ordered the GNAT (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT) Ghana to reverse the decision to declare a statewide strike announced on Wednesday.
The NLC also summoned the three teacher unions to appear before the Commission on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. for a hearing on the points in dispute.
In an interview, Benjamin Arthur, Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), stated that the Commission was surprised by the unions’ decision to go on strike while negotiations to fulfil the teachers’ requests were ongoing.
He criticised the unions’ conduct, adding, “A small group cannot meet and declare a strike.”
Mr Arthur advocated for a revision to the country’s labour rules to prevent workers from unilaterally calling strikes.
