Threats to reduce their salary, according to the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG), won’t stop them from continuing their strike action.
Prince Obeng Himah, the president, has stated that they have already noticed warning signs regarding the punitive action and won’t be shocked if it occurs.
“No, we won’t be surprised at all. We have heard whispers from certain corridors that punitive actions were going to be taken if we dared go on strike. These were some of the things that were whispered: salaries will be frozen, those of us leading the strike will be imprisoned, and we are fully aware of what is ahead as union members.
“How do you say we won’t be paid if we don’t sign attendance when it has not been part of our scheme of things?” he said.
CETAG began an indefinite strike on August 1 to pressure the government to keep its promise to adopt its negotiated terms of service.
Following the government’s non-compliance with the negotiated conditions of employment and the arbitral award orders of the National Labour Commission (NLC) since May 2, 2023, they made this judgment.
Because CETAG disregarded a directive from NLC to end the strike, the latter claims the Ministry of Education has good reason to withhold the strikers’ August salary.
In accordance with the NLC, the government may also revoke their appointment if the ministry conducting continuing validation discovers that they have missed work.
In accordance with the NLC, the government may also revoke their appointment if the ministry conducting continuing validation discovers that they have missed work.
However, Mr. Himah has suggested having a direct discussion with the NLC about their salary arrears and outlining a clear payment schedule.
“We are not happy with the turn of events. We need to fight to right the wrongs, if we do not fight, we will not even live to benefit from what we are fighting for.
“The whole documentation should result in payments, at the end of the day, the economy is hard, and people continue to be on expired 2021 conditions of service. Those are the things we should pay attention to,” he suggested.