The meeting between the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG), Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR), FWSC, GTEC, MoF and PRINCOF held on 5th July, 2024, failed to reach a conclusive agreement on ending the industrial action by CETAG.
Despite the government’s commitment to addressing all CETAG concerns within two weeks, no concrete action was taken.
The meeting saw heated discussions over several contentious issues, including:
• Top-Up of BRA: The government promised to pay the top-up in two weeks, but CETAG insists on receiving bank alerts and resolving all outstanding issues before calling off the strike.
• Migration of Lecturers and PhD Students: CETAG demanded the immediate migration of lecturers and PhD students, arguing that the government’s current approach undermines the National Labour Commission (NLC) Arbitral Award.
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While the Minister agreed to seek clarification from the NLC, CETAG provided evidence challenging the government’s interpretation.
• Unilateral Variation of Positions Allowances: The MELR initially agreed to halt the implementation of the unilateral variation, but later proposed a meeting on July 12th to discuss the issue. This change in stance was met with skepticism from CETAG.
• Lack of Transparency and Delayed Implementation: CETAG expressed concerns over the government’s lack of transparency regarding data validation and the delay in implementing the NLC Arbitral Award.
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In light of these unresolved issues, CETAG declined to sign a “Meeting Outcome” document and the strike action remains in full force.
According to CETAG, they will consult with their National Executive Council and Council before making a decision on their next steps.