Teacher unions end strike

Three pre-tertiary teacher unions have brought to an end their two-week-old strike, which they started nationwide on March 20, 2024, citing the government’s failure to address their conditions of service.

The decision to end the strike follows the National Labour Commission (NLC) obtaining an interim injunction to halt the industrial action, thereby facilitating the commencement of negotiations.

These unions include the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT).

It would be recalled that  the teacher unions before the strike called on   Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to put in place measures to address issues affecting teachers’ ability to effectively deliver on their mandate.

Speaking on behalf of the leaders of the unions, the President of GNAT, Rev. Isaac Owusu, explained that the government had failed to renegotiate a collective agreement that addressed issues such as allowances for teachers in underserved areas, entertainment allowance and housing/rent allowance.

That, he said, was because the existing document expired in 2023 after running its three-year course, adding that the new one should have been finalised by February 29, 2024.

In a statement to the media in Accra on Tuesday,  April  2, 2024 to  end the  strike King Ali Awudu, President of the Coalition of Concerned Teachers, Ghana, stressed the necessity for their employers to promptly engage in negotiations to address their concerns.

“As law abiding citizens and having respect for the court, we hereby declare the strike that was called on 20th March 2024 off. We ask all our members and teachers of pre tertiary education in this country to resume work with immediate effect.”