CETAG STRIKE NOTICE

CETAG  to Announced Strike: A Stand for Economic Rights.

The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) wishes to formally notify you of its decision to embark on an industrial action. This decision is driven by a need to protect our economic rights as enshrined under Article 24(1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and Section 10(a&b) of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651). The union's leadership has reached this point after a series of unresolved issues with our Employer, and the failure of relevant authorities to enforce legal directives.

Reasons for the Strike

1. Non-Compliance with NLC's Compulsory Arbitration Award.

As our Employer, you have willfully failed to comply with the National Labour Commission's (NLC) Compulsory Arbitration Award issued on 2nd May 2023. This non-compliance is a breach of Section 167 (2&3) and Section 64 (4) of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651). The arbitration award is legally binding, and your disregard for it undermines the rule of law and the protection of workers' rights.

2. NLC's Reluctance to Enforce Its Directives

Despite our adherence to the NLC's directive to call off our strike in August 2023, the NLC has shown reluctance to enforce Section 172 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651). This section mandates the NLC to ensure compliance with its awards and directives. The union has sent several letters to the NLC requesting enforcement of the arbitration awards specified, but to no avail. This inaction has forced CETAG to take a stand to protect its members' rights.

3. Denial of Due Benefits

The NLC and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) have denied CETAG members the benefits they are entitled to based on the Compulsory Arbitration Award issued on 2nd May 2023. This denial violates the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, which obligates state institutions to respect and uphold the rule of law.

4. Non-Payment of Research Allowance Arrears

The FWSC and the Ministry of Education have deliberately refused to pay the top-up of research allowance arrears due to CETAG members. These arrears arise from the 2023 Conditions of Service (CoS) Agreement, which was approved by the Ministry of Finance in July 2023 and is supposed to be in effect until 31st December 2024. This refusal to pay is an affront to the agreement and to the economic well-being of our members.

 5. Unilateral Variation of Allowances

The Conference of Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF) and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) have unilaterally varied allowances for office-holding positions. This variation is in direct violation of the 2023 Conditions of Service Agreement signed with the FWSC, which had approval from the Ministry of Finance. Such unilateral decisions undermine the collective bargaining process and the financial stability of our members.

Conclusion

CETAG wishes to state unequivocally that we will no longer tolerate any further violations of our rights as workers under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. We implore the FWSC, as the constitutional body mandated to negotiate on behalf of the Government, to uphold the Constitution of Ghana and the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651). Our decision to proceed on strike is firm, and we will not call off our action until all outstanding Compulsory Arbitration Awards and related concerns are addressed.

This industrial action is not taken lightly. It is a necessary step to ensure that our rights and entitlements as workers are respected and upheld. We urge all stakeholders to recognize the gravity of this situation and to act swiftly to resolve these issues. The future of education in Ghana depends on the fair treatment and motivation of its educators. We remain committed to our duties and to the education of our students, but we also demand that our economic rights be safeguarded.

Sincerely,

The Leadership of CETAG