By Some concerned grassroots members of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana are threatening to go on strike due to the government’s failure to implement the National Labour Commission’s arbitral awards designed to improve the working conditions of colleges of education teachers.
The group is alarmed that, despite lengthy negotiations with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission that lasted over a year and led to mandatory arbitration by the National Labour Commission, the government has not upheld its commitments, prompting their decision to consider a strike.
The group is also blaming CETAG leadership, accusing them of colluding with the government, which has led to their demands not being fulfilled.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, October 30, Suleman Mohammed Mustapha, the National Public Relations Officer for the group, stated that they will go on strike if their demands, which include being migrated to the salary structure alongside university lecturers, are not fulfilled.
“The Arbitral awards were granted two years ago and it is ending soon. We went on an indefinite strike which lasted for 72 days and the Office of the Vice President intervened and we brought our strike to an end. We signed an MOU and we were promised that by October we would be migrated onto the university salary structure.
“Till now no official has said anything about the issue. Our National leadership is seriously in bed with the government and so as concerned grassroots members of CETAG, we have decided to embark on strike on November 8, 2024, to redeem ourselves from the economic challenges we find ourselves “Suleman Mohammed Mustapha National Public Relations Officer of the group said.
“This is seriously having an impact on our members. Teachers at the universities are earning more than us and we have the same qualifications. The current condition of service at the colleges of education is appalling and demeaning, to say the least.
“The lowest rank in the public universities earns more than the highest rank in the colleges of education. In terms of remuneration, an assistant lecturer which is the lowest rank in public universities earns more than a chief tutor which is the highest rank in colleges of education. This disparity is strange and a true sign of Injustice against the colleges of education lecturers. We want to know why the government is underpaying such highly qualified lecturers like us,” the National PRO questioned.
