The National Chairman of Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG), Mr Zakaria Mohammed, has revealed that lecturers will resume strike if their demands from government are not met.
According to him, if any of the parties are “seen to be dragging its feet”, or found “violating the directive” the Association will equally resort to the NLC for redress.
His comments follow the suspension of strike by university lecturers over unmet demands from government.
Mr Mohammed explained that out of the “two options” available to them, they have the right per directives to report the matter to the NLC. As a consequence, an action will be taken “against the party involved”.
“…We had reminded them of the 28th January ruling that directed government of Ghana to use three months to address the concerns. We had indicated to the Commission that no known punitive action was taken against government, a development that the Senior Staff Association weren’t happy about.
“We also pointed out to the Commission a number of things. So, the options that are left for us if our demands are not met is to resume the strike. That’s why the strike has been suspended”.
Zakaria Mohammed
FWSC hybrid of non-basic allowance and market premium
Touching on what necessitated the strike action, Mr. Mohammed explained that the Fair Wages and Salary Commission was awarding us market premium and non-basic allowance “in a different form”.
The new form, he noted, sought to measure the two in one percentage which “we found very disgusting”.
“Because the other union, our compatriots, were give one percentage that was a representation of the non-basic allowance, that same percentage was what Fair Wages and Salary Commission was giving to us as a hybrid of non-basic allowance and the market premium.
“When we went to the National Labor Commission, they now decoupled the two. So, it means that the percentage that initially was given to us is supposed to be a representation on one of the allowances and not sought to fuse the two”.
Zakaria Mohammed
Tier two pension allowance
Additionally, he revealed that the Association had written to the minister for employment and labor relation to help address their complaint of “tier two pension arrears”.
However, since their petition on June 30, Mr Mohammed maintained that “no response” or acknowledgement has come from the minister.
As a result, the Association’s retirees have not been able to receive their full benefits because the interests have not been paid.
That notwithstanding, he indicated that Minister for Employment and Labor Relations has invited the Association along with the Minister for Finance, Controller and Accountant General and their technical team to deliberate on the matter.
“…The two technical teams will meet tomorrow and determine the modalities on how this tier-two pension interest is going to be calculated because the Fair Wages and Salary Commission has also decoupled the two. It is only right and proper that in law it is not possible whiles you’re on strike you engage with government. It’s not going to happen.
“So, if the strike was not suspended, what it meant therefore is that, we would have had to forgo the negotiation”.
Zakaria Mohammed
