The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has been charged Ghc3,000 by the Labor Court 1 Division for what the court described as, time wastage.
In a court sitting today, Monday, August 16, 2021, the court presided over by the Justice Frank Rockson Aboadwe, awarded the penalty against UTAG due to its inability to complete its application process of an injunction placed on them by the NLC.
According to reports, the UTAG lawyers told the Court that they had hoped the elaborate processes could be dispensed off, given the urgency of the situation.
But the Court, however, not impressed with the situation, slapped UTAG with the penalty for wasting its time.
The Court which convened to hear an injunction application brought against the teachers’ union by the National Labor Commission over the ongoing industrial action has adjourned the case to Wednesday, August 19, 2021.
Settle issues at hand before next sitting
The Labor court also asked the University Teachers Association of Ghana and the National labor Commission to settle their issues before the next court sitting.
The Court said that the matter could be settled by both parties and urged them to do so if possible before the next court sitting.
The NLC and UTAG indicated to the court they are committed to that effect.
Court proceedings
Prior to the Labor Court slapping the amount on UTAG,;it was the case of NLC that, the exhibit,;the counsel UTAG was relying on to move his application has not been certified as per order 20 (14).
According to the NLC lawyer,;that section is instructive in nature and therefore the application was not properly put before the court. He prayed the court not to allow UTAG, the applicant to move the application.
Counsel for UTAG,;in his response to the objection,;said every document they have attached to their processes has been stamped by the registrar of oath.
Justice Aboadwe after listening to the two parties said it was minded not to strike out the case but give UTAG an opportunity to prepare properly. The court said, the provision in the said section was mandatory and ought to be fulfilled.
To this end,;the lawyer of NLC asked the court to slap a GHc10,000 fine against UTAG on grounds that, the case is of public interest.
Lawyer of UTAG though agreed that NLC deserves some fine,;offered to give GHc500 but Justice Aboadwe subsequently awarded a penalty of GHc3,000 in favor of the NLC.
Contempt served against UTAG
Meanwhile,;an application for contempt against the leadership of UTAG has been served on them and that case is expected to heard tomorrow,;August 17, 2021.
The Commission on Friday, August 6,;secured an interlocutory injunction from the court to compel UTAG;to call off their strike which started on Monday, August 2, 2021.
UTAG however refused to comply with the order, indicating that the premise is false.
While the NLC said that UTAG cannot remain on strike while negotiations with the government are ongoing,;UTAG insisted that there is currently no active negotiation between them and the government. UTAG subsequently filed a motion to set aside the injunction.
