No return to classrooms until arrears hit accounts – Striking teacher unions

The striking teacher unions have rejected calls to return to the classroom, insisting they will maintain their industrial action until the government takes concrete steps to address their concerns.

The decision follows a meeting between the unions and Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, who appealed to them to call off the strike and return to the classroom while assuring them that their concerns would be addressed.

The unions involved are the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG).

They are demanding the payment of outstanding promotion arrears and progress in negotiations over their conditions of service.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Head of Salaries, Grievances and Negotiations at GNAT, Isaac Baah, said the unions were no longer prepared to rely on assurances from the government.

“Indeed, we met the minister and his team this afternoon with regard to our strike action. It has been the old story of promises upon promises,” he said.

“At the moment, we are not taking promises. We want action.”

Mr Baah said teachers would remain at home until they saw evidence that the government had implemented its commitments to resolve their concerns.

“Our teachers must continue to stay home until we see something concrete,” he said.

He said the unions expected the outstanding salaries and arrears to reflect on teachers’ payslips and be credited to their accounts before they would consider returning to school.

“Until we see the salary and the arrears reflecting on our payslips and credited to our accounts, until we see that, we are not going back to school,” Mr Baah said.

He added that the strike would continue until all outstanding issues raised by the unions were addressed and resolved.

“We’ll continue to stay home until all our issues are addressed and resolved,” he said.