CETAG Suspends Strike After Voting
The Colleges of Education Teachers Association (CETAG) has announced the suspension of their industrial action over their Conditions of Service (CoS) after more than a month.
The suspension comes after the majority of the members of the CETAG voted in favour of the decision on September 4, 2023.
A copy of the outcome of the votes intercepted by opemsuo.com showed that 69.57% voted in favour of the suspension of the strike while 30.43% were against it.
The Association said it has therefore suspended the strike effective September 5, 2023.
“On the basis of the voting outcome above, the strike is suspended/call-off based on a majority decision with effect from Tuesday, 5th September 2023…ALL MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO RESUME WORK LATEST BY THURSDAY, 7TH SEPTEMBER, 2023.”
It however warned that members will resume the industrial action if their concerns are not addressed by October 31, 2023.
CETAG began an indefinite industrial action on August 1, 2023, over Ministry of Finance’s “refusal” to abide by an Arbitrary Order by the National Labour Commission (NLC) to implement a new Condition of Service for colleges of education teachers.
“Following the NLC’s Compulsory Arbitral Award, the parties proceeded to sign off the negotiation agreement which has been communicated to the Ministry of Finance by the FWSC since 26th May 2023, for approval and implementation.
“Surprisingly, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) has refused to act on the FWSC’s letter together with the NLC’s Arbitral Orders in spite of letters we have written to the MoF requesting the immediate implementation of the negotiated agreement,” a statement issued by the CETAG ahead of the strike read.
CETAG noted that its members cannot continue to live on 2020 negotiated Conditions of Service in 2023.
In the course of the strike, a letter dated August 21, 2023, by the Director of Administration of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Saaka Sayiti surfaced directing the Controller and Accountant General’s Department not to process the August salaries and allowances of members of CETAG who were on strike.
It, however, directed the Department to validate and pay any other arrears before August 2023.
