Labor Expert, Austin Gameh, has intimated that industrial relations isn’t built around unnecessary tension and as such the ongoing industrial actions must be negotiated properly.

The Labor Expert employed the Labor Unions and the Employers to learn the art of negotiation and the impartiality that goes with it so that they will prevent industrial actions.

“This is industrial relation and we don’t build relationship with uneccesary tension around it. That is why the body[NLC] that has been set up is described and legally called impartial.”
Austin Gameh

According to Austin Gameh, the employer [NLC] has a key role to play in resolving the action by the Unions because of the totality of information at their disposal.

“The workers [Unions] may know in parts but you have it whole, so share that relevant information with them and make them feel inclusive. The spirit of industrial relations is about inclusivity.”
Austin Gameh

Austin Gamey urged the Labor Unions, stakeholders and employer to stand together in facilitating matters and admonished all parties to resolve the industrial actions amicably.

Gov’t can face disruptive industrial relations climate- Labor Expert

UTAG to meet with members

Meanwhile, members of the University Teachers Association of Ghana(UTAG) have revealed that they will hold meetings at the various local levels to consider returning to work.

The National President of UTAG, Professor Solomon Nunoo, stated that the meeting is necessary to allow them give feedback to its members. He revealed that it is only after the meeting that the Union will decide to halt or proceed with its strike action.

“So, across the country we are reporting back to our members so that we can look at the way forward.”
Professor Solomon Nunoo

Explaining why the NLC declared the strike as illegal, Prof. Nunoo disclosed that UTAG, according to NLC, was expected to give some days notice which it did but unfortunately didn’t get to the appropriate person.

“That is what they took into consideration. So, based on that action, they declared that the strike is illegal.”
Professor Solomon Nunoo

This was after the National Labor Commission (NLC) declared the strike as illegal and asked that it should be called off after its meeting with the Teacher Union and government. The NLC also directed that the Union returns to the negotiation table and reach a consensus.

CETAG Strike still holds

In a related development, the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has stated that its strike will remain in force until its members meet to take a decision on the way forward.

General Secretary of the of CETAG, Nathan Ohene Gyan, stated that the Union has informed the stakeholders within the Association and for that reason, the Union will be having meeting on Monday to consider the declaration of the NLC.

“We are waiting for official documentation on that effect so that we can study the minutes very well then we will speak to our legal team then the Association will take a decision on Monday.”
Nathan Ohene Gyan

He stated that in the interim, the strike still holds till the Association arrives at a decision.

“I, being a Secretary, cannot stand my grounds and issue a release that we are calling off the strike. What is going to happen is that we will present the issues that has happened over the period to the stakeholders so they have a broader bird eye view.”
Nathan Ohene Gyan