The National Labor Commission (NLC) has indicated that it has taken the necessary steps to get the grievances of teachers resolved immediately.
As a result, the Commission has written to the government to engage the striking teachers while it has called on them to also rescind their industrial action.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Ofosu Asamoah, who was speaking on the strike action expressed sympathy for the teachers but asked that the regulations to proceed on strike are followed.
Mr Asamoah, further noted that his outfit received the notice of withdrawal of service from the teacher unions after they had even proceeded on it. “We just got wind of it and letters have just been despatched.” He disclosed that the NLC’s notice to the teachers to rescind their decision is also on its way to them.
The Executive Secretary expressed hope that the matter will be resolved as the two parties have been asked to engage for an amicable resolution.
“We sympathize with them because when it comes to cost of living, I think both government and everybody is aware of how it has gone but certainly this is not the best we wished for. But let us do things within the law.”
Ofosu Asamoah
GES To Engage With Striking Teachers
Meanwhile, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has intimated that it will meet with the leadership of the teacher unions who have declared the withdrawal of their services.
In a statement issued by GES, it intimated that the meeting is to discuss the development and the way forward.
Aside inviting the various teacher groups for the meeting, GES noted that management has directed heads of senior high schools through the Regional and District Directors of Education to mobilize their management teams to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students in schools.
“Regional and District Directors have further been directed to ensure that Basic School Heads keep schools opened and closely supervise all children who report to school pending further directives from Management of GES.”
Ofosu Asamoah
The GES further urged parents to remain clam as management is closely monitoring the situation and will advise on the way forward accordingly.
At least four teacher unions in Ghana in have declared an indefinite strike over their cost of living allowance (COLA). They are the Ghana National Association of Teachers, National Association of Graduate Teachers, Coalition of Concerned Teachers, Ghana and the Teachers and Educational Workers Union. The strike took effect Monday 4th July, 2022.
The unions stated that government failed to meet their 30 June deadline to pay their members the cost of living allowance.
“We have been compelled under the current circumstances to publicly communicate to Ghanaians on our intention to go on strike having gone passed the 30 June deadline we gave government for the payment of cost of living allowance.”
Ofosu Asamoah
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