Teacher strike: FWSC warns of salary deductions if action is ruled illegal

Teachers taking part in Ghana’s nationwide pre-tertiary strike could face salary deductions if their industrial action is deemed illegal, the Fair Wages and

Salaries Commission has warned.

The commission’s chief executive, Dr George Smith-Graham, said the government hoped to reach an agreement with the unions before Friday, October 9. He indicated that salary measures could be considered if the strike remained active by October 15.

The strike began on September 25 over outstanding promotion arrears, salary placement and other conditions of service. Negotiations between the teacher unions and the commission continued on Tuesday, October 6, but ended without a final agreement.

Speaking on Akoma 87.9 FM’s GhanAkoma programme in Kumasi, Dr Smith-Graham said workers who take part in an illegal strike could lose their pay for the days they are absent from work.

“If you go on an illegal strike, once it is illegal, every day you stay home, your salary will be deducted,” he said.

“That is what is supposed to be done, just that here in Ghana we are a bit flexible.”

His warning was conditional on the industrial action being illegal. The supplied account does not establish that the current teacher strike has been formally declared illegal or that salary deductions have been authorised.

Dr Smith-Graham said the government wanted discussions to produce an agreement before further action became necessary.

“We hope to resolve the matter before Friday to avoid all these issues and possible outcomes,” he said.

The October 9 date represents the government’s target for resolving the dispute. His reference to October 15 concerned possible action over salaries if teachers remained away from work.

The unions have maintained that they will continue the strike until concrete steps are taken to address their concerns. They say government assurances alone are insufficient to bring the industrial action to an end.

Their position leaves the dispute unresolved despite the continuing negotiations. The outstanding issues concern both payments linked to promotion and teachers’ salary placement, alongside other employment conditions.

The next development will be whether the unions and the commission can agree on measures that persuade teachers to return to work before the government’s stated target.

For now, no final settlement has been announced, and the salary warning remains a possible consequence rather than a confirmed deduction.

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