The National Labour Commission (NLC) has declared the intended strike action by the Ghana Air Traffic Safety Electronics Association (GhATSEA) illegal and ordered its immediate withdrawal.
The directive followed a meeting held on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, involving the NLC, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), and representatives of GhATSEA. At the meeting, the Commission ruled that GhATSEA does not have the legal capacity to declare or embark on a strike because it is an association, not a registered trade union recognised under Ghana’s labour laws.
GhATSEA had earlier announced plans to embark on an indefinite strike beginning Thursday, January 15, 2026. The Association cited salary discrepancies among its members and demanded the removal of the Director of Human Resources of the GCAA as reasons for the planned action.
Following the announcement, the GCAA petitioned the National Labour Commission to intervene, raising concerns about the legality of the proposed strike and its potential impact on aviation safety and operations.
In its ruling, the NLC stated that the intended strike action contravenes Regulation 20(e) and (h) of the Labour Regulations, 2007 (L.I. 1833). The Commission explained that the grievances raised by GhATSEA fall within the scope of an existing Collective Agreement, which the Association lacks the legal authority to negotiate or enforce.
The Commission further emphasized that such matters should have been pursued through the recognised union that is a party to the Collective Agreement. It also noted that GhATSEA does not have the legal standing to appear before the NLC in its current form and, therefore, has no right to declare a strike.
The NLC has directed individual members who feel aggrieved to channel their concerns through the dispute resolution procedures provided under the applicable Collective Agreement. According to the Commission, once these issues are properly brought to the attention of GCAA management, they should be addressed promptly.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority has reaffirmed its commitment to staff welfare and human capacity development, assuring stakeholders that it remains open to resolving concerns in line with the law and established labour relations frameworks.