The four major teacher unions have begun an indefinite nationwide strike – starting today, Monday, July 4.
According to the unions, the industrial action is meant to drive home their demands for Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) which have so far fallen on the deaf ears of the government.
In a joint press statement issued and signed by the leadership of the unions, made up of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers Ghana (CCT), they requested that the 20% of their basic salary to be paid to them.
The General Secretary of GNAT, Thomas Musah, during a press conference argued that “we can no longer bear the hardship. Even more so, we reject the inequality of salaries in the public services of this country. We have been compelled under the current circumstances to publicly communicate to Ghanaians on our intention to go on strike, having gone past the June 30, 2022 deadline we gave government for the payment of the Cost of Living Allowance.”
He added that “consequently, we have decided to embark on a strike action effective today, Monday, July 4, 2022. By this, we are informing the general public that we are withdrawing all our services in all the pre-tertiary education space – this includes teaching and non-teaching staff.”
However, the Employment and Labour Relations Ministry has also said leadership of the teacher unions have been invited to a meeting concerning their demands but only GNAT has responded so far.
