Latest Update on Deduction of Salaries of Striking Teachers
The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has taken note of a media report purportedly attributing comments to the Chief Executive of the Commission, Dr George Smith-Graham, regarding the payment of salaries to workers who engage in an illegal strike.
The report, which suggests that Dr Smith-Graham has stated that workers who engage in an illegal strike would have their salaries deducted for every day they remain away from work has generated public interest and may create an impression about the position of the FWSC on the ongoing industrial action by the three pre-tertiary teacher unions.
The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission wishes to state that our Chief Executive did not make the comments attributed to him in the said media report.
The FWSC therefore respectfully appeals to the public and the media to disregard the purported comments and any conclusions drawn from them, as they do not represent a statement made by the Chief Executive or a position taken by the Commission in relation to the ongoing teachers’ strike.
The Commission further wishes to emphasise that its current engagement with the three pre-tertiary teacher unions is focused on dialogue and negotiations aimed at addressing outstanding issues relating to their collective agreement and conditions of service.
FWSC Engages Teacher Unions
As part of efforts to resolve the outstanding issues, the FWSC on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, engaged the leadership of the three pre-tertiary teacher unions in negotiations.
The meeting, chaired by Dr George Smith-Graham, was attended by the General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Thomas Musah; the President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Jacob Anaba; the President of the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG), King Awudu Ali, and other leaders of the three unions.
The engagement provided an opportunity for the FWSC and the union leadership to discuss the outstanding issues and demands raised by the unions.
Speaking after the meeting, Dr Smith-Graham said the engagement would be reconvened at a later date to allow the Commission to undertake further consultations on the demands presented by the unions and engage the relevant stakeholders before negotiations resume.
He also commended the leadership of the unions for the peaceful manner in which the meeting was conducted.
The engagement formed part of the formal process initiated by government to address the concerns of the three teacher unions following the commencement of their nationwide strike on Monday, September 28, 2026.
The FWSC’s involvement followed an emergency meeting convened by the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, with the leadership of the three teacher unions on September 28, 2026, following the commencement of the strike. The Minister subsequently indicated that the FWSC would spearhead the next phase of formal negotiations on behalf of government.
The FWSC wishes to reiterate its commitment to constructive engagement with the teacher unions and other relevant stakeholders towards finding a mutually acceptable and sustainable resolution to the outstanding issues.
The Commission acknowledges the importance of the concerns raised by the unions and believes that continued dialogue and good-faith negotiations remain critical to resolving the issues.
The FWSC therefore encourages the public, the media and all stakeholders to rely on verified information from the Commission and other appropriate authorities regarding developments on the matter.
The Commission remains committed to promoting fair, transparent and sustainable compensation arrangements while fostering harmonious industrial relations in Ghana’s public service.
Source: quarmsmedia.com