Teacher unions call off strike

The teacher unions that declared a nationwide strike have called off their industrial action starting today, Tuesday, April 2.

Addressing a press conference in Accra, the President of the National Association of Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonou, said they do not want to disregard the court order.

“We have called off the strike because we don’t want to disrespect the court. We also call on the Ministry of Education and the government to continue the negotiations.

“I stand on behalf of all teacher unions to announce that we have called off the strike,” he said.

The National Labour Commission (NLC) earlier secured an injunction restraining the teacher unions from continuing their strike.

The NLC sued the teacher unions at an Accra High Court about their industrial action after efforts to get them to resume work failed.

The Court, in its ruling on Thursday, March 28, said, ”It is hereby ordered that the respondents herein, whether by itself, its executives, officers, members, agents, employees or other persons, are restrained from the further continuation of their strike action of March 20, 2024.”

The three teacher unions declared a nationwide strike effective Wednesday, March 20, 2024.

The unions are the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT).

This was after they accused the government of negligence in addressing their conditions of service.

They had raised issues about the ongoing withholding of teachers’ salaries, unilateral changes to timetables without consulting the unions, and delays in the distribution of laptops to teachers.

Addressing the media earlier while announcing the strike, the National President of GNAT, Isaac Owusu, said, “The distribution of laptops to all teachers is of concern. The rampant changes in the school calendar without recourse to negotiation with the teacher unions are affecting the smooth operation of the service. Also, the blockage of teacher salaries by the Office of the Special Prosecutor without recourse to the laid down procedures is a major worry.”

“In the light of the above circumstances and given the delays and unfulfilled promises on the part of the employer and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, as well as threats from the rank and file of our members, we, the pre-tertiary teacher unions, do stand with our members and hereby declare a nationwide industrial action effective today, Wednesday, March 20, 2024, to press home our demand,” he stated.

The NLC, in a statement signed and issued by its chairperson, Justice Kwabena Asuman-Adu, on Thursday, ordered them to rescind their decision, but they failed to comply, leading to the court action.

“In pursuance of Section 133(1) of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), GNAT, NAGRAT, and CCT are ordered to rescind the decision of the declaration of a nationwide strike made on March 20, 2024, and announced on various media networks in the country.”