Our Strike is Legitimate- CETAG

The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has defended their industrial action over their conditions of service saying it is legitimate.

In a press statement on July 22, 2024, the Association said it followed all laydown processes before declaring the action and thereby its legitimacy.

It explained, “NLC is making all efforts to misinform the public that it has obtained an ex-parte injunction against CETAG’s ongoing strike action. The fact is that NLC filed an interlocutory injunction motion against CETAG on 9th July 2024 at Labour Court 1 in Accra. CETAG’s lawyers filed our motion in opposition on 16th July 2024.

“The interlocutory injunction motion was to be held on 18th July 2024 but when the parties went to court that day the case was adjourned to 6th August 2024 due to the absence of the Judge.”

Against the wishes of the government, it said it was not prepared to call the strike off until the government honoured their demands.

“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.”

It also warned against attempts by the government to freeze the July salaries of its members.

“We want to caution that any attempt to illegally freeze salaries of our members who are on a legal 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.”

Background
CETAG declared a strike on June 14 over the failure of the government to comply with the NLC’s decisions and orders given by the Compulsory Arbitration Awards agreed by the parties.

They include an order for the payment of one-month salary to each entitled member of CETAG as compensation for additional duty performed in 2022; an order that the agreed rates of allowances payable to public universities be applied to deserving members of CETAG; and an order that the implementation of the completed Staff Audit exercise shall commence from 1st January 2023.

Source:opemsuo.com