The National Labour Commission (NLC) has directed four striking tertiary education unions to continue engagements with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), the sector ministry and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) over outstanding salary arrears, Tier Two pension contributions and overtime allowances.

Under the directive, the parties have been given one month to report back to the NLC on progress made towards resolving the issues that triggered the industrial action.

The decision follows a meeting between the Commission, the four teacher unions and the respondents in an effort to address the grievances raised.

The unions involved are the Senior Staff Association–Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG), the Teachers’ and Educational Workers’ Union of the Trades Union Congress (TEWU-TUC), the Federation of Universities Senior Staff Association of Ghana (FUSSAG), and the Technical Universities Administrators Association of Ghana (TUAAG).

Meanwhile, the unions have agreed to suspend the strike following an injunction secured by the Commission at the High Court.

Findings

At the meeting, the Commission found that as of January 1, 2026, the migration of upgraded staff had been completed to address concerns relating to salary arrears.

It also established that part of the Tier Two contributions being complained of by the unions had been paid.

Additionally, the NLC noted that following migration onto the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS), allowances within the public service are negotiated by the Public Service Joint Standing Negotiating Committee (PSJSNC) under Categories Two and Three. Overtime pay falls within this category of allowances.

Background

Following the declaration of the strike by the teacher unions, the NLC summoned the four unions to appear before it for a hearing on the issues that led to the industrial action.

The summons was issued pursuant to Section 139 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).

This came after the NLC secured a High Court injunction against the strike.

In an order for interim injunction, the court, presided over by Justice Priscilla Dikro Ofori, described the strike as illegal and directed the unions to call it off with immediate effect.

The order, granted on February 13, 2026, followed an ex parte application by the Commission.