Strike by 3 teacher unions in bad faith, unwarranted – FWSC

The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) says the decision by the three teacher unions to embark on an indefinite strike is in bad faith and unwarranted.

According to the Commission it had been engaging with the three unions on a number of the reasons they had cited for their strike and could not come to terms with the action taken by the unions.

Addressing an emergency news conference in Accra yesterday, the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Mr Benjamin Arthur, said at a meeting held with the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT) on January 20, 10 out of the 16 items submitted for negotiations were agreed on.

He said at the meeting the FWSC indicated that there was the need to secure further mandate from the Ministry of Finance on the outstanding items in order to conclude negotiations with them.

“Subsequently, FWSC extended an invitation to the teacher unions on Tuesday March 19, 2024 for a meeting on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 10 00 a.m. to continue and possibly conclude the negotiations,” he emphasised.

Mr Arthur said the Commission apart from writing a formal letter inviting the various unions for negotiations, also went further to contact some leaders of the unions as part of preparations towards the meeting on Thursday.

“There was no indication, whatsoever, of their intentions not to be available for further engagement. So therefore without serving the required notice to embark on a strike, contrary to the relevant provisions of the Labour Act, 2003 (ACT 651) and the rules of engagement signed with the Teacher Unions, they have indeed embarked on an indefinite strike which we deem as a show of bad faith.

Mr Arthur, therefore, appealed to the leadership of the unions and their members to call off the strike immediately and comeback to the negotiation table to continue with the engagement in good faith.

He also called for a relook at the labour laws to avoid employers being ambushed on the whims and caprices of a few individuals.

BY CLIFF EKUFUL

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