The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has set a deadline for the government to address it’s service conditions by May 31, 2024.

The association expressed frustration over the government’s delay in implementing the National Labour Commission’s (NLC) Arbitral Award Orders and negotiated service conditions. Among the demands, CETAG is asking for compensation for each member with one month’s salary for additional duties performed in 2022, among other issues.

“We would like to send a very strong signal and a message to our employer in unambiguous terms. We shall take our destinies into our own hands if all the outstanding compulsory arbitration awards listed below are not fully implemented. We wish to call on the FWSC, GTEC, Ministry of Employment and Labour Relation, MoE, and the MoF to immediately comply with the NLC’s compulsory arbitration award orders in the supreme interest of industrial peace.”
Dr. Prince Obeng-Himah, National President of CETAG

Additionally, Dr. Prince Obeng-Himah, the National President of CETAG appealed to the President of the Republic of Ghana, the speaker of Parliament of Ghana, the Chief Justice, and the Chairman of the National Peace Council to uphold the rule of law by complying with the NLC’s compulsory arbitration award orders issued on 2nd May 2023 to prevent any industrial disturbance.

In 2023, the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) embarked on a series of strikes due to the government’s failure to honor the National Labour Commission’s (NLC) Arbitral Award Orders and the negotiated conditions of service.

The strikes began in January 2023, following protracted negotiations between CETAG and the government over new conditions of service for members of CETAG. The NLC intervened with a Compulsory Arbitration following CETAG’s strike in January 2023, issuing an Arbitral Award Order on May 2, 2023, granting CETAG members a new condition of service with effect from January 1, 2023.

Potential Consequences of Government’s Actions

Labor Unions Threaten Strike — CETAG Threatens Strike

Despite the NLC’s Compulsory Arbitral Award, the government’s failure to implement the negotiated conditions led to CETAG’s decision to declare an indefinite strike effective August 1, 2023, over the government’s non-implementation of the negotiated conditions of service.

The National Labour Commission (NLC) plays a crucial role in the current situation involving the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG). The NLC’s involvement is centered around the compulsory arbitration process that was initiated following CETAG’s strike.

“The commission listened to both parties, the commission realized that the complainant, in this case, the government, has not fully complied with the directives of the commission. So, they have been directed to implement fully what the commission’s directives were, as in the payments of the monies that are due them.”
Ofosu Asamoah, Executive Secretary of NLC

CETAG has warned of exploring alternative actions, which could include industrial actions that could lead to disturbances across the 46 public colleges of education. The NLC’s role in this situation is to act as an impartial arbiter, ensuring that the government’s compliance with the arbitration awards is enforced to maintain industrial peace and address the legitimate concerns of CETAG members.

The government’s failure to honor the NLC’s orders could lead to a loss of public trust in the government’s commitment to addressing labor issues and ensuring fair treatment of public sector workers. This could have broader implications for the government’s reputation and public relations.

The government could face legal consequences for not complying with the NLC’s orders. The NLC’s compulsory arbitration awards are binding, and failure to implement them could potentially lead to legal action by CETAG or other affected parties.

These consequences highlight the importance of the government’s compliance with the NLC’s compulsory arbitration awards to maintain industrial peace, ensure fair treatment of public sector workers, and uphold the rule of law.