The Pre-Tertiary Teacher Unions have presented 11 urgent demands that were among the issues raised when they recently met with the labor union about the appointment of Dr. Eric Nkansah when they met with the National Labour Commission (NLC).
The legitimate issues of concern if not addressed could lead to another strike action by the teacher unions in the first term of the 2023 academic year.
The 11 issues were addressed to the National Labour Commission as a reminder, however, the NLC and the GES will have to work hand in hand to get these issues resolved with the sector ministry to avoid any future industrial action by the unions.
The Requests by Teacher Unions, Which Must Be Met to Avoid Another Industrial Strike
Per the letter dated 14th November 2022, the unions outlined the 11 critical issues as follows.
- Refund of GHS44.55 to teachers arising out of the one teacher, one laptop.
- The payment of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) allowance to teachers.
- Progression to grade progression to the Grades Director II & I arising out of the scheme of service.
- Delayed payment of allowance to teachers in areas designated as deprived delay.
- Delay developing a scheme of service for staff of Ghana Education Service (GES) since the adoption of the public service manual and policy framework in 2015.
- Delay in Lower ranks promotion since 2015.
- Some teachers who were promoted or upgraded since 2015 have not been placed on their right scale.
- Reversal of the SHS semester system to trimester.
- Delay in the payment of responsibility allowance in 2018.
- Delay in the payment of car maintenance allowance since 2018
- Review of the collective agreement
Should the above issues not be addressed, the teacher unions may declare a strike, requesting all eleven items be addressed before they go back to the classroom early next year.
Government and its agencies in the education sector have their work cut out for them as the academic year comes to a close in December 2022.
