High Court Orders Teacher Unions to End Strike

The Accra High Court has issued an injunction against three teacher unions in Ghana, restraining them from continuing their nationwide strike. The National Labour Commission (NLC) sought this legal action after unsuccessful attempts to persuade the unions to halt their industrial action.

The unions involved are the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT). Their strike, declared effective from Wednesday, March 20, 2024, was in protest of what they perceived as the government’s neglect of their conditions of service.

Among the grievances cited by the unions were the withholding of teachers’ salaries, unilateral changes to timetables without consultation, and delays in the distribution of laptops to teachers. Isaac Owusu, the National President of GNAT, emphasized these issues, stating, “The distribution of laptops to all teachers is of concern. The rampant changes of the school calendar without recourse to negotiation with the teacher unions is affecting the smooth operation of the service.”

In response to the strike, the NLC ordered the unions to rescind their decision, citing Section 133 (1) of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651). Despite this directive, the unions persisted, prompting the NLC to seek legal intervention.

In its ruling, the High Court ordered the unions to immediately cease their strike action. The court’s decision, issued on Thursday, March 28, prohibits the unions and their members from further continuation of the strike. The unions have been instructed to comply with the court order.