You Have Acted in Bad Faith – FWSC Asks CETAG To Suspend Strike Action Immediately | General News

The National Labour Commission (NLC) has been petitioned by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to advice members of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) to suspend their strike action.

According to the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the decision of CETAG to embark on the strike is in bad faith adding that, the only way a consensus could be reached from both parties, is through dialogue.

In a press conference held in Accra on Friday, June 14, 2024, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the FWSC, Mr. Ben Arthur, expressed his utmost shock at the decision taken by CETAG to embark on an indefinite strike.

The CEO stated that, there has been an attempt to invite the aggrieved teachers for a dialogue but they have failed to show up.

The striking tutors had complained about the nonpayment of one-month basic allowance after they had forfeited their leave days.

But Mr. Arthur said, government has already begun the process to pay the amount involved.

He said, “We were very expectant that we could agree with PRINCOF (Principals of Colleges of Education) to raise money internally to be able to make the payment, but we also found out that they could not. So, central government decided to pay for it. Eventually, all those who qualified for it, PRINCOF and GTEC and we have been supplied with the details and submitted to Finance (Ministry of Finance) for action.”

The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) also complained about failure by the employer to pay them as university lecturers after the National Labour Commission had earlier directed.

In his reaction, the Chief Executive explained that the migration of CETAG to benefit from the conditions of service of lecturers has been concluded.

“If you want to be paid, then you must be subjected to the conditions of the lecturer in order for you to be able to benefit from the same conditions. You have to accept the conditions for us to also match you to whatever we give to the lecturers, so that work has been done.”

Urging them to call of the strike, Mr. Arthur said, “We are calling on them to go to the classroom to go and teach. This strike is out of bad faith.”