Due to the government’s failure to comply with requests for the payment of the Cost of Living Allowance, four teacher unions have announced a nationwide strike (COLA).
This comes after the unions’ June 30 deadline for the government to act expired.
The associations are the Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU), the Coalition of Concerned Teachers, the National Association of Graduate Teachers, and Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT).
The teacher organizations voiced dissatisfaction with the government’s response to their requests during a joint news conference by the education unions on the allowance.
According to a publication by Citinews, General Secretary of GNAT, Thomas Musah, who read the statement, disclosed that all their calls have fallen on deaf ears.
“We have been compelled under the current circumstances to publicly communicate to Ghanaians on our intention to go on strike having gone passed the June 30 deadline we gave government for the payment of Cost of Living Allowance. Consequently, we have decided to embark on strike from today, Monday, July 4, 2022. By this, we are informing the general public that we are withdrawing services in all the pre-tertiary education institutions. This includes teaching and non-teaching staff. “
Thus, after announcing an indefinite strike, the leadership of the four teacher unions instructed its members to stop working immediately.
According to Angel Carbonu, president of the National Association of Graduate Teachers, the decision to strike was undertaken because they had reached their breaking point.
The instructors are battling for the payment of a cost-of-living allowance equal to 20% to 30% of their wages
According to the teachers, the stipend will protect them from the effects of the economy’s current state and the instructors’ deteriorating situation.
Some interested parties have argued that, notwithstanding the legitimacy of the need for COLA, teacher unions ought to seize the chance to push for a long-term resolution to the difficulties teachers face.
The government had promised to come to an agreement with the head of the teaching unions, but that has not yet happened.
