The ongoing strike by the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG), which commenced on June 14, has significantly disrupted academic activities across the country. This strike has spurred the Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana (TTAG) to call for the temporary closure of the 46 affected colleges. In a recent letter dated August 13, CETAG has responded to various statements made by officials, providing a detailed account of their grievances and the current state of negotiations.CETAG’s Response to Recent Statements CETAG’s letter criticizes recent statements by the Executive Secretary of the National Labour Commission (NLC) and the Hon. Minister for Education, accusing them of misrepresenting the facts surrounding the strike.
CETAG UNVEILED THE TRUTH
According to CETAG, the Executive Secretary’s media comments suggesting that CETAG is being unreasonable and obstructing the NLC’s work are unfounded. CETAG argues that the strike was necessitated by the NLC’s failure to enforce a compulsory arbitration award in their favor, which was initially issued on May 2, 2023. Despite repeated requests for enforcement and assurances from the NLC, no concrete action has been taken, leading to the strike’s continuation.
Furthermore, CETAG refutes claims made by the Executive Secretary that the union is defying a court order by not calling off the strike. They assert that no such court order exists and that the legality of the strike remains unaddressed by the NLC. As of August 13, the Commission’s legal actions against CETAG have been stalled due to procedural delays.
Attached is the copies of CETAG current letter on their stand about the ongoing strike
The Hon. Minister’s Allegations
The letter also addresses allegations made by the Hon. Minister for Education, who claimed that CETAG had signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the government but failed to end the strike. CETAG disputes this assertion, stating that the National Council of CETAG did not approve the MoA, and they have communicated their reasons for this disapproval to the Ministry. They also point out that the Hon. Minister himself had previously reneged on promises made to CETAG, undermining his credibility in the current dispute.
Outstanding Issues and Government inaction.
CETAG’s letter highlights several unresolved issues, including the government’s failure to implement the arbitration award fully. The union reports that no colleges have been migrated to the public university pay structure as stipulated, and outstanding payments, including compensation for work done in 2022 and research allowance top-ups for 2023, remain unsettled. Additionally, there is no progress on halting the unilateral reduction of office-holding allowances.
Conclusion
CETAG’s letter underscores a deepening frustration with the government’s approach to resolving the strike. The union accuses the government of attempting to frustrate their efforts rather than addressing the core issues. With the strike causing significant disruptions in the academic sector, CETAG is calling for concrete action and payment from the government to restore normalcy. As the situation continues to evolve, the onus is on the government to address these concerns effectively and work towards a resolution that will end the strike and mitigate the impact on education. For now, CETAG remains firm in its position, emphasizing that the strike will continue until their demands are met.
ALUTA CONTINUA!
