Teacher unions maintain strike as FWSC, GES negotiations yield no deal

The nationwide strike by pre-tertiary teachers continues as negotiations between the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), the Ghana Education Service (GES) and teacher unions failed to reach an agreement on Wednesday. The ongoing discussions focus on resolving the concerns that led to the industrial action, with a key issue being the resolution of outstanding data processing for teachers who have received promotions.

This data processing is crucial for the payment of promotion arrears owed to these educators. Following Tuesday's unsuccessful meeting, General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Thomas Musa, called upon teachers to remain steadfast as the unions await definitive timelines from the government. He emphasized that the unions are eagerly awaiting clear commitments regarding the completion of outstanding processes and the subsequent payments to affected teachers.

This meeting is part of a broader effort to resolve the dispute and restore normalcy in pre-tertiary education across Ghana. The unions have been urging the government to address financial obligations, including backpay for promotions and other service-related issues. The strike has significantly impacted academic activities in public pre-tertiary institutions, prompting the unions to insist on concrete measures and timelines before considering a suspension of the strike.

The government has affirmed its commitment to resolving these concerns and has been actively engaging with the unions through the FWSC and the GES. Earlier, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu had appealed to the striking teachers to return to the classroom, stating that the government remains dedicated to finding an amicable solution.

He also announced that the 20 percent deprived-area allowance would be disbursed once the validation of eligible teachers is finalized. With Tuesday's talks concluding without a resolution, the focus now shifts to Wednesday's meeting, where the unions are expected to demand clearer timelines from the government regarding the outstanding processes and payments.