‘If you go on illegal strike, your salary will be deducted’ – Fair Wage commission warns teacher

According to report by Onuaonline on Wednesday 7, October 2026, teachers participating in the ongoing nationwide strike could face salary deductions if the industrial action is declared illegal and continues beyond the government’s expected deadline for resolving the dispute.

Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), Dr George Smith Graham, issued the warning during an interview on Akoma FM’s morning programme, GhanAkoma, on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.

According to him, workers who embark on an illegal strike risk losing their salaries for the period they remain away from work.

“If you go on an illegal strike, once it is illegal, every day you stay home, your salary will be deducted. That is what is supposed to be done, just that here in Ghana we are a bit flexible,” Dr Smith-Graham stated.

His comments come amid the continued industrial action by pre-tertiary teacher unions, which began on September 25, 2026. The unions have been demanding action on outstanding promotion arrears, salary placement and other concerns relating to their conditions of service.

Dr Smith-Graham said government remained hopeful of reaching an agreement with the teacher unions before Friday, October 9, in an effort to bring the strike to an end and prevent further complications.

He further warned that if the industrial action remains unresolved by October 15, the government may have to consider measures concerning the salaries of teachers who have stayed away from work.

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

The Labour Act provides for consequences where workers participate in an illegal strike, including the possible forfeiture of remuneration for the period of the unlawful industrial action.

The teacher unions, however, have maintained that they will not call off the strike based solely on assurances from government. They are demanding concrete steps to address their outstanding concerns.

Negotiations between the unions and the FWSC continued on Tuesday, October 6, but ended without a final agreement.

With the strike entering another phase, attention is now focused on ongoing negotiations and whether government and the teacher unions can reach a settlement before the deadlines outlined by the FWSC.

Mr.Douglas feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com