CETAG claims action not strike but ‘frozen service’

CETAG President Prince Obeng-Himah (Middle) wants his members’ November salaries restored

The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) says the industrial action members have embarked upon cannot be termed strike as they are virtually at post.

“We are at post technically and we are still carrying out some of our duties,” National President Prince Obeng-Himah stated on TV3’s News 360 on Thursday.

According to him, their industrial action is just a mere freezing of services.

“It is about semantics,” he indicated.

He said this was made clear to the National Labour Commission (NLC) on Thursday when they met over the impasse.

CETAG withdrew their services on Monday, October 29 over claims that government has failed to pay members their market premium and Book and Research Allowance.

The action has bitten hard at the various colleges of education across the country.

Government considered the action illegal, refraining from paying the protesting teachers their November salaries.

‘You won’t be paid for November’ – Gov’t tells striking CETAG members

This irked the teachers who resolved not to engage in any negotiations with government if the November salaries are not paid.

“I kept telling people that we are on the right side of the law,” Mr Obeng-Himah told Alfred Ocansey after Thursday’s meeting, which is said to have ended inconclusively.

He said despite the Commission impressing on them to call off the “strike”, they did not.

“We still remain where we are,” he stressed on the news programme.

According to him, the NLC did not give any timelines regarding the directives though 3news.com gathers Monday, December 3 was proposed for them to return to the colleges as decisions are firmed up.

CETAG’s President says another meeting with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has been scheduled for Friday, November 30 and the outcome will determine if the Association will go back to NLC or not.

He said if things do not go as expected, NLC will definitely activate the Compulsory Arbitration Process.

By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana

Follow @kwame_amoh