The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission has described a strike action declared by three teacher unions as worrying.
The teacher unions are 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.
Speaking at a press conference to respond to the teacher union decision, the Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, Ing. Benjamin Arthur, said the action by the teacher unions is a threat to democracy. He opined that the decision by the three teacher unions to embark on an indefinite strike was in bad faith and unwarranted.
According to the Commission, it had been engaging with the three unions on the reasons they had cited for their strike and could not come to terms with the action taken.

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 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 come back to the negotiation table to continue with the engagement in good faith.

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