Four teachers’ unions have declared an indefinite nationwide strike effective Monday, July 4, 2022, over their demand for the payment of the Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA).
According to the teachers’ unions, comprising 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 are demanding that the 20% of their basic salary be paid to them as well.
Contained in a press statement dated July 4, 2022, signed by the leadership of the various teachers’ unions, it noted that they have “severally called for the government’s grant of a 20% Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA)” to the Ghanaian worker generally and in particular, teachers and educational workers of the pre-tertiary education levels. The unions revealed that, these calls unfortunately, have “fallen on deaf ears”.
“We have been compelled under the current circumstances to publicly communicate to Ghanaians on our intention to go on strike having passed the June 30,2022, deadline we gave government for the payment of Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA). Consequently, we have decided to embark on a strike action, effective Monday, July 4, 2022. By this, we are informing the general public that we are withdrawing all our services in all the pre-tertiary educational space.”
Teachers’ Unions
Challenges of teachers in the country
The unions indicated that their demand is influenced by the high level of inflation in the country, “the incessant skyrocketing prices of fuel, goods and services” which have eroded the already “woefully so-called salary increases granted us as expressed in 4% and 7% for 2021 and 2022″ respectively. Inflation in the country, the unions stated, is currently 27.6% and continues to “escalate ad infinitum [and] only God knows when this will abate”.
“We are very much appalled at the inept attitude of the government relative to our call for COLA. We have severally on different platforms and times made this call which fell on deaf ears of government. For instance, the several press conferences on this matter…”
Teachers’ Unions
The unions expressed that they can no longer bear the hardship and by that reject the “inequality of salaries in the public services” of the country.
Meanwhile, the Employment and Labour Relations Ministry has revealed that it has invited the leadership of the teachers’ unions to a meeting over their demands. It however, noted that only the leadership of GNAT has responded to attend, with NAGRAT and CCT yet to revert.
According to the Deputy Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Bright Wireko-Brobbey, a meeting will be held once the parties involved are ready to show up.
“I am still waiting for signals for us to meet, where all stakeholders will be brought on board and the outcomes of those meetings will be laid bare… Let’s keep our fingers crossed. The fact that times are hard is trite knowledge. It is a reality. Our largest workforce as a country is teachers and I must confess that public sector workers must be commended.”
Bright Wireko-Brobbey
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