Education Minister, striking teacher unions fail to reach agreement

The striking teacher unions have rejected calls by the government to return to the classroom, insisting that they will maintain their industrial action until concrete steps are taken to address their outstanding demands.

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 work while government works to resolve their concerns.

However, speaking to the media after the meeting, Head of Salaries, Grievances and Negotiations at the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Isaac Baah, said the unions were no longer prepared to rely on assurances.

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

Baah said the unions had received several promises from government in the past and would therefore wait for evidence of implementation before considering an end to the strike.

Teacher Unions Strike: 'Advise government to do the needful' - GNAT

“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.

He said teachers would remain at home until outstanding salaries and arrears were reflected on their payslips and credited to their accounts.

“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,” Baah indicated.

He stressed that the unions would continue the industrial action until all outstanding issues had been addressed and resolved.

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

MRA/VPO

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