The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has condemned the ruling of the National Labour Commission (NLC) by instructing the lecturers to return to work.

According to the association, the Commission has not been reasonable in its ruling on the matter involving the striking public universities. It revealed that the NLC should have proffered charges against the employer for the “blatant unilateral variation” of the conditions of service agreed to on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, with regards to the Vehicle Maintenance and Off-Campus Allowances.

“The NLC has not been reasonable in its ruling. From the totality of the facts and evidence before it, the NLC should have no difficulty in making a definite order against the Employer to pay amounts on figures agreed and established by convention.”
UTAG

Contained in a statement signed by the national President of UTAG, Prof Solomon Nunoo, it revealed that as a result of the disparities in the implementation of the adjusted “ex-pump” rate, the NEC of UTAG has reiterated its resolve to follow through with its decision of withdrawing teaching and related activities.

UTAG resolves to continue strike

UTAG stated that the withdrawal of services includes assessment of examination script and postgraduate theses, processing, auditing and certification of examination results, departmental and related meetings until further notice.

The Association called on all UTAG members across the fifteen branches to observe same. It explained that its lawyers have also raised concerns “about the rulings of the NLC and have forwarded same to the Commission”.

“They have advised that the steps being taken in respect of the rulings of the NLC are without prejudice to the rights our Association have in law.”
UTAG

Meanwhile, UTAG has requested universities writing end-of-semester examinations to continue and has directed its branch executives to hold meetings with leaders of other labour unions on campuses to determine “Essential Services that can run during the ongoing strike” action.

“As a matter of urgency, we call on the employer to restore CoS. Following the uneasiness among UTAG members, any delay by the employer would further exacerbate the already fragile academic calendar to the detriment of all stakeholders.”
UTAG

It will be recalled that the NLC on October 20, 2022, instructed UTAG to call off the strike immediately.

The Commission, among other things, directed UTAG to “engage fitter on the Terms of Payment” and other related matters. It also urged both parties to bring to the engagement table, people with mandate to take and/or make decisions and that the engagement should be held in good faith

UTAG went on strike along with the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG) and Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA). They had suspended an earlier strike threat after meeting with the National Labour Commission.

However, following a meeting with the National Labour Commission, the unions revealed that the government has not honoured its side of the bargain. The strike by the four Unions according to their leadership, is to compel the government to reverse its decision to pay the 2022 fuel ex-pump allowance instead of the 2021 amount.