Call Off Strike Now – Labour Commission Orders CETAG

The National Labour Commission (NLC) has ordered the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG), to with immediate effect, call off its strike.

This directive was contained in a statement issued by the NLC on Monday.

CETAG is in the fifth week of an indefinite strike declared after all attempts to reach an agreement with government on a roadmap to the payment of their market premium and book and research allowance, proved futile.

An earlier meeting between CETAG and the NLC to resolve the impasse had ended inconclusively.

But upon a similar sitting with the Fair Wages and Salary Commission (FWSC) and having listened to both parties, the NLC demands teachers to return to the class and restore full service immediately.

The disputing parties —FWSC and CETAG is also expected to “return to the negotiation table within five (5) working days i.e. Monday 10th December 2018 and continue with negotiations of the Interim Market Premium and Books and Research Allowance,” the statement read.

NLC expects all negotiation to be concluded within fourteen working days upon commencement adding that “the parties must negotiate in good faith with a view to reaching an agreement.”

Outcome of the negotiation will further be communicated to the NLC, not later than January 4, 2019.

It is barely a week after 46 Colleges of Education were closed down and students asked to go home.

Nonetheless, the closure, may have expedited various stakeholders to have a sober reflection on the matter.

Even the leadership of CETAG had admitted at a point that, there seem to be no winner in the impasse.

Though government had shown some level of commitment to the plight of CETAG by offering an interim payment of 20% as against the 120% market premium demanded by the group, CETAG turned down the offer.

Government argues it would be impossible to pay the 120% since such expenditure has not been captured the national budget.

By: Grace Ablewor Sogbey/ [email protected]