CETAG pledges to oppose unauthorized salary freeze during ongoing strike

The leadership of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association has warned it will resist any illegal attempts to freeze members’ salaries, vowing to intensify its indefinite strike until the arbitral award and negotiated service conditions are implemented.

CETAG insists its strike is legal and accused the National Labour Commission of misinforming the public about its actions.

The Association also denied claims that its members have received arrears for the Book and Research Allowance for the 2022/2023 academic year.

Academic activities at Colleges of Education nationwide have come to a halt since CETAG began its strike in June, protesting the government’s delay in implementing the arbitral award and negotiated service conditions.

Speaking at a news conference in Kumasi, CETAG President Prince Obeng-Himang stated that members will remain on strike until all outstanding concerns are addressed.

He cautioned that any attempt to illegally freeze salaries would lead to legal action, as the strike is a legitimate response to the government’s delay in implementing the arbitral award and negotiated service conditions.

The Association also refuted allegations that its members are conducting quizzes and tests for students during the strike.

CETAG clarified that students cannot take examinations if they forfeit lectures/classes for more than 21 days, as per the attendance policy of affiliate universities.

The Association advised students, principals, and affiliate universities to respect this policy and warned of legal action against any violations.

“The first of such misinformation was put across by GTEC two weeks ago that the Government had paid CETAG members an amount of GH¢199 million as arrears for Book and Research Allowance for the 2022/2023 academic year. The fact is that as of today Monday 22nd July 2024, the Government has not paid any such money to members of CETAG.”

“The second misinformation being peddled by some principals of colleges of education to students is that the affiliate universities shall conduct quizzes and examinations for the students whether the students are taught by the lecturers or not. This information is completely false because per the attendance policy of all the affiliate universities, a student cannot take an examination if he or she forfeits lectures/classes for more than twenty-one (21) days.”

“CETAG is using this medium to advise students, principals and affiliate universities that any attempt to violate the class attendance policy shall be met with legal action by any stakeholder in the education space.”

“We are by this press statement informing the public that CETAG’s strike action is legitimate since the Union followed all lay down processes before declaring the action. The Union wishes to notify the Employer that until it complies with all the outstanding arbitration awards by NLC, the Union shall never call off its ongoing strike action.”

“Lastly, we want to caution that any attempt to illegally freeze salaries of our members who are on a legal a strike shall be met with a legal action against whoever takes such an action. CETAG will no longer tolerate injustice against its members because Ghana is a country governed by the rule of law.”