The government has stated emphatically that the four teacher unions that are on strike cannot engage in negotiations with them regarding the payment of the Cost of Living Allowance while they are on strike (COLA).
The government claims that due to the teacher unions’ strike action, it is unable to engage in negotiations with them regarding their demand for the payment of the COLA.
‘We cannot negotiate with you under duress,” the government said to the four teacher unions namely the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the Coalition of Concerned Teachers Association of Ghana and the Tertiary Education Workers Union (TEWU).
On Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at 6:00 a.m. on Accra 100.5 FM, the Deputy Minister for Manpower and Labor Relations, Bright Wreko Brobbey, gave this notification while explaining why the teacher unions left a meeting with labour unions to discuss the payment of COLA.
According to him, it is against the law for an employer to bargain with workers while they are on strike.
“The employer cannot negotiate with striking workers,” he said.
He noted that the government is open to negotiations with the teachers if they call off the strike.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com/Joseph Asare
