The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT-Gh) have declared nationwide strike.
Three teacher unions’ industrial action started on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.
According to them, the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the National Labour Commission have failed to address their Collective Agreement issues which expired in 2023.
“It would interest you to know that following the expiration of the Collective Agreement in 2023, negotiation of the new Collective Agreement should have been completed on or before February 29, 2024, but this has not been so. Thus, the new Collective Agreement stands un-negotiated and we raised this concern in our letter to the Director General GES, dated February 29th, 2024 and also informed the National Labour Commission. As we gather here now, the issue is still outstanding,” The Teacher Unions said in a statement sighted by Elvisanokyenews.com.
They also raised concerns that the Ghana Education Service does not have a functional scheme of service for teachers.
“We have also drawn the attention of the Director General of the GES to the fact that the Ghana Education Service does not have a functional scheme of service for teachers. Thus, a cogent and appreciative one, which takes care of all requirements in the teaching profession needs to be developed for us. We have cried over this to no avail!” Part of the statement read.
Below is the full statement.
DECLARATION OF INDUSTRIAL ACTION (STRIKE)
Good morning our friends from the Media.
We have assembled you here this morning, to help carry our message and sentiments to the authorities-that-be at the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, and all who care about the education enterprise in the country, and all who have the concerns of teachers and learners at heart.
In recent times, we the Pre-tertiary Teachers Unions – GNAT, NAGRAT, and the CCT-Gh, have raised our voices over and over again on the following issues with the employer and asked for resolution, failure of which we hinted advising ourselves.
- DELAY WITH NEGOTIATION OF THE COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT
It would interest you to know that following the expiration of the Collective Agreement in 2023, negotiation of the new Collective Agreement should have been completed on or before February 29, 2024, but this has not been so. Thus, the new Collective Agreement stands un-negotiated and we raised this concern in our letter to the Director General GES, dated February 29th, 2024 and also informed the National Labour Commission. As we gather here now, the issue is still outstanding,”
2. SCHEME OF SERVICE
We have also drawn the attention of the Director General of the GES to the fact that the Ghana Education Service does not have a functional sheme of service for teachers. Thus, a much cogent and appreciate one, which take care of all requirements in the teaching profession needs to be developed for us. We have cried over this to no avail!
Source: Elvisanokyenews.com
