The National Labour Commission (NLC) has threatened to force government and striking teachers of Colleges of Education into compulsory arbitration if the two fail reach consensus that will see an end to the month-long strike by the teachers. A meeting between the NLC and the teachers ended inconclusively on Thursday as the latter appeared unyielding. The Commission consequently directed the teachers who form the Colleges of Ediucation Teachers Association (CETAG), and the government, to meet and agree on a roadmap to resolve the standoff by Monday, December 3. A statement issued by the National Secretary of CETAG, Nathan Ohene Gyang, after Thursday’s meeting said “should we fail to reach an agreement [with the government], the Commission will trigger a compulsory arbitration”. Meanwhile, CETAG is expected to meet with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) Friday November 30, and the outcome is expected to determine whether the teachers will return to the classrooms. CETAG withdrew their services on Monday, October 29 over government’s failure to pay members their market premium and Book and Research Allowance following their upgrade to tertiary institution. The action has bitten hard at the various public Colleges of Education across the country. Government considered the action illegal, and has resolved not to pay the protesting teachers their November salaries.
The teachers in response to government’s decision threatened to cease all negotiations with government if the November salaries are not paid. Speaking on News360 on TV3 Thursday, National President Prince Obeng-Himah pointed out that their action 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,” he said and explained their industrial action is just a mere freezing of services. “It is about semantics,” he indicated. By 3news.com|Ghana]]>
Advertisement