President of the University of Cape Coast-UTAG Chapter, Dr Samuel Bert Boadi-Kusi, has revealed that there is still a possibility for the Association and the National Labour Commission to discuss more on the concerns of teachers to get the issue resolved.

Dr Boadi-Kusi revealed that UTAG hasn’t had any formal engagement with the NLC since its last meeting with the commission on 13^th of January, 2022. He noted that the duo have only had some “public discourse” and some utterances from the CEO of the Commission which “we hear most often”.

“I want to go on the tangent that, I think that there’s room for some intense discussion. Yes, we have been talking, we have been engaging, but I still want to believe that there’s room for some high-level discussions to be able to get this challenge resolved. I keep saying that we are leaders because we have been mandated to solve problems and so if there are problems or challenges that we cannot get a headway, then it still means that we need to do more”.
Dr Samuel Bert Boadi-Kusi

Dr Boadi-Kusi indicated that he cannot confirm or otherwise whether UTAG will continue its strike action following a hint of a possible legal suit filed by the NLC against it. He noted that he is not sure there’s been any legal suit from the NLC that has been served on the leadership of UTAG.

“Apart from that, we have not had any engagement with them. But I must say that generally, our members have not been enthused about the posture which has come in from the NLC… As it were, it’s a democratic state, each one is entitled to put out whatever information it so ought to put out. So, some of these things push people away and I will say that to a large extent, it’s contributed to where we are”.
Dr Samuel Bert Boadi-Kusi

Reaching a resolution on strike action

The UTAG-UCC President expressed that the association respects the NLC as a “state institution” although they may have “differing opinion”. Largely, he emphasized that some utterances, not only from the NLC but also from other quarters as well has contributed to where both parties currently stand.

“But as unfortunate as it is, I think that these are things we can easily overcome. We don’t need to quarrel over it for any reason”.
Dr Samuel Bert Boadi-Kusi

The NLC, according to Dr Boadi-Kusi, ruled that teachers must return to active teaching, which was channelled to members of the association by its leaders. However, he intimated that these members were of the “strong conviction” that, they could not comply with the order.

“So, if you check the communique that came, leaders informed members that this is the order that has come from the NLC, we are obliged to obey by law. The same provisions of the labour law which says that the NLC can give an order and we ought to comply also made some provision for when… the party disagrees with the ruling. And I think that, that is the next step which legally, we have heard that the NLC intends to go back to court and enforce its orders”.
Dr Samuel Bert Boadi-Kusi