The four striking teachers’ unions are expected to meet the government today to continue negotiations on their demand for 20 per cent of Cost-of-Living-Allowance (COLA).
The government says it is committed to engaging organised labour to find a lasting solution to their demand, and appeal to the teachers to call off their week-long industrial action.
A statement signed by the Minister of Employment and Labour Relation, Ignatius Baffour Awuah said, the government is taking note of the demand by organised labour in the light of the current economic conditions prevailing in the country.
The Deputy Minister for Employment and Labour Relations Bright Wereko Brobbey mentioned in an interview that the government will meet the teacher unions to continue with negotiations.
” The government will engage them today to find a lasting solution to this hardship that is globally induced that everybody is talking about, and is expecting us to chart a course forward not to break the back of Ghana.
The request brought before us is legitimate, and let us not blame anyone. At this point strike has been declared, and the underlining causes of the strike is not affecting only that group,” He mentioned.
Meanwhile, the fair wages and salary commission will meet today to begin moves to avert a looming nationwide strike by organised labour.
The Commission will start negotiation with the 23 Labour Unions and Associations on the demands for 20 per cent of Cost-Of-Living-Allowance (COLA).
According to a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Benjamin Arthur, government team that is expected to be at the meeting are representatives from the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, the Fair Wages and Salary Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, Ministry of National Security, Controller and Accountant General’s Department and the Ghana Education Service.
For organised labour, the Unions and Associations include the Ghana Trade Union Congress (TUC) National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Ghana Federation of Labour, Ghana National Association of Teachers(GNAT), Ghana Federation of Disabled Workers Union, the Public Services Workers Union, the Ghana Medical Association, and the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana.
