The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission has described a strike action declared by three teacher unions as worrying. 

 The teacher unions include the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT).

 The teacher unions have indicated that the strike was necessitated by grievances such as the ongoing withholding of teachers’ salaries, unilateral changes to timetables without consulting the unions, and delays in the distribution of laptops to teachers.

 However, speaking at a pres conference on monday, the Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Comission, Ing Benjamin Arthur, said the action by the teacher unions is a threat to democracy. He urged them to immediately call off the strike and return to the negotiation table. 

 Furthermore The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) says the decision by the three teacher unions to embark on an indefinite strike is in bad faith and unwarranted. 

 According to the Commission it had been engaging with the three unions on a number of the reasons they had cited for their strike and could not come to terms with the action taken by the unions. 

 He said at the meeting the FWSC indicated that there was the need to secure further mandate from the Ministry of Finance on the outstanding items in order to conclude negotiations with them. 

 “Subsequently, FWSC extended an invitation to the teacher unions on Tuesday March 19, 2024 for a meeting on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 10 00 a.m. to continue and possibly conclude the negotiations,” he emphasised.

 Mr Arthur said the Commission apart from writing a formal letter inviting the various unions for negotiations, also went further to contact some leaders of the unions as part of preparations towards the meeting on Thursday.

“There was no indication, whatsoever, of their intentions not to be available for further engagement. So therefore without serving the required notice to embark on a strike, contrary to the relevant provisions of the Labour Act, 2003 (ACT 651) and the rules of engagement signed with the Teacher Unions, they have indeed embarked on an indefinite strike which we deem as a show of bad faith. 

 Mr Arthur, therefore, appealed to the leadership of the unions and their members to call off the strike immediately and comeback to the negotiation table to continue with the engagement in good faith. 

 He also called for a relook at the labour laws to avoid employers being ambushed on the whims and caprices of a few individuals.