CETAG and CENTSAG threaten to go on strike

The two significant staff associations at the 46 colleges of education across the nation have threatened to lay down their arms if the government does not prioritize their well-being.

The organizations are the Colleges of Education Non-Teaching Staff Association of Ghana and the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) (CENTSAG).

The “how Government has handled matters impacting the welfare of our members in the colleges of education over the years,” they claim, has left them disillusioned.

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The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) unilaterally chose April 2023 as the start date for placing First Degree Holders of CENTSAG on 17H on the SSSS, and the Ministry of Education’s excessive delay in replying are only a few of the problems.

The government was given five working days in the joint communiqué of November 6 to resolve the issues or face a strike.

According to CETAG and CENTSAG, if their demands are not granted by Friday, November 11, 2022, “we shall revive our indefinite strike activities that we suspended on January 24 and April 14, 2022, respectively.”

After a fruitless meeting with the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, the three teacher unions on strike have decided to continue their continuing industrial action.

On Friday, November 4, 2022, the National Association of Graduate Teachers, Ghana National Association of Teachers, and Coalition of Concerned Teachers Ghana announced a strike.

After the government’s deadline to change its mind about appointing Dr. Eric Nkansah as the new Director-General of the Ghana Education Service passed, the unions initiated industrial action.

The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations then summoned a meeting of the Unions to inform them of the strike that would take place on Friday, November 4, 2022.

Due to the meeting’s lack of resolution, it was postponed to Monday, November 7, 2022.

The Ghana National Association of Teachers’ President, the Reverend Isaac Owusu, expressed optimism for a positive outcome on Monday, November 7, 2022.

As they awaited the next meeting on Monday, he stated that they would communicate the meeting’s outcome to their members.

Rev. Owusu emphasized that they had faith that their worries would be taken into account.

According to Deputy Minister of Employment and Labor Relations Bright Wireko-Brobbey, the Ministry is hopeful that the issue may be resolved peacefully.

As they conversed, he pleaded with the Unions to end the strike.