The highly anticipated meeting between teacher unions and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), hopes for a quick resolution were dashed as planned discussions failed to take place, extending the deadlock over crucial issues such as the collective bargaining agreement.
Contrary to initial reports suggesting an invitation had been extended to the leadership of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers, and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT) by the FWSC, Isaac Baah, GNAT’s Head of Compensation and Benefits, disclosed that the unions were only made aware of the invitation through social media and officially received it on Thursday, March 21, 2024, in the afternoon.
Mr. Baah emphasised that, although they now possess the letter, the unions have yet to formally respond to it.
He also highlighted that negotiating with the FWSC is just one of the five critical issues they are advocating for, emphasising that the industrial action will persist until all grievances are addressed.
A visit by the Adom News team to various schools in Accra revealed that despite the ongoing strike, teaching and learning activities were continuing.
Nevertheless, GNAT has asserted that the strike is gaining momentum, urging strict compliance from its members.
The impasse between teacher unions and the FWSC underscores the profound challenges within the education sector, emphasizing the urgent need for a comprehensive and sustainable resolution to safeguard the welfare of teachers and uphold the quality of education in Ghana.