While the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has suspended its three-week industrial action, the association has made it abundantly clear that several critical issues remain unresolved, demanding immediate attention from relevant government bodies.
Despite acknowledging partial progress in migrating staff to the University Salary Structure, CETAG has outlined a series of outstanding grievances that they say must be addressed to ensure lasting industrial peace within the Colleges of Education.
According to a statement released by the association, the following specific issues are still pending and require swift action from the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), and the Controller and Accountant General Department (CAGD):
Unpaid All Year Round Work Compensation (AYRWC):
CETAG is demanding the immediate payment of All Year Round Work Compensation for additional work performed during the year 2022.
This compensation is owed to staff at 42 different Colleges of Education across the country.
The association insists that this payment is overdue and must be prioritized.
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Book and Research Allowance (BRA) Arrears:
The association is calling for the disbursement of arrears for the 2023/2024 Book and Research Allowance (BRA).
The payment of these arrears, according to CETAG, is contingent upon the full implementation of an Arbitral Award granted by the National Labour Commission (NLC) on May 2, 2023.
The delay in this payment is a point of significant contention for CETAG members.
BRA Top-Up Arrears for Akrokerri College:
Specifically, CETAG is demanding that the 2022/2023 BRA Top-Up arrears owed to deserving staff members at Akrokerri College of Education be paid without further delay.
This issue represents a localized grievance, but one that CETAG emphasized must be resolved to ensure equity and fairness.
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Non-Migration and Improper Placement:
A significant concern for CETAG is the issue of some members who have not been migrated to the new University Salary Structure, or have been placed improperly within the new system. CETAG is demanding a review and rectification of these cases, ensuring that all eligible staff members are correctly placed and compensated.
CETAG has stressed that these outstanding matters must be jointly and promptly addressed by the FWSC, GTEC, and CAGD to prevent further disruption to the academic calendar and ensure long-term stability in the Colleges of Education.
The association has made it clear that while it has suspended its industrial action in good faith, the unresolved issues remain a significant source of concern and could potentially lead to future action if not adequately addressed.
“We wish to reiterate that there are outstanding issues emanating from the arbitration awards and the migration process that require [these bodies] to jointly see to their immediate resolution,” a statement from CETAG read, underscoring the urgency with which these issues must be handled.
The association has now placed the onus on government bodies to ensure these outstanding grievances are swiftly resolved to prevent a re-escalation of tensions and further disruption.