The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has suspended its seven-week old strike until March 4 to further engage with the government over members’ conditions of service.

In a statement by the Association, UTAG disclosed that an emergency meeting was held at the University of Professional Studies (UPSA) to deliberate on the way forward regarding the withdrawal of teaching and related services on the various campuses and that resulted in the new decision.

According to UTAG, its lead counsel presented critical explanations on the state and impact of the court ruling. Following this, UTAG stated that its members evaluated the entire strike action with the aim of reaping the full benefit of improving the Conditions of Service.

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“Following these, UTAG members are kindly informed of the decision of NEC to temporarily suspend our strike action for the stated period and to engage with Government.”
UTAG

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The statement indicated that the NEC of UTAG also considered the impact of the industrial action on its students and the appeals from the public, especially parents and respected eminent leaders. UTAG stated that it took into consideration appeals made by respected eminent leaders like former President John Agyekum Kufuor, who is the Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), and Sir Sam Jonah, who is the Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC).

According to UTAG, it also considered the appeal from the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education to suspend the strike action, negotiate and report to them within one week.

The leadership of UTAG called on its members to “heed to the advice of the eminent leaders, the select committee on education and the court ruling to suspend our strike action up to 4th March, 2022 to engage with government”.

Roadmap for negotiation agreed upon

UTAG informed its members that a roadmap for the negotiation between Government and UTAG has been agreed upon. Negotiations, UTAG noted, will commence in earnest and completed within the agreed period and the outcome communicated to members.

“That in line with the Bylaws of UTAG (i.e., Article 5, Sections 1-4), the general membership must be informed for ratification or otherwise of the decision to suspend our strike action. The employer has committed to improving the conditions of service of UTAG members.”
UTAG

Education TUTAG Strike 1 696x522 1 — Empty lecture halls

Meanwhile, UTAG has averred the legal processes on the legality or otherwise of its strike action, pending before the Court, will continue to its logical conclusion.

“The NEC of UTAG counts on the support of all members as we work to secure improved Conditions of Service for the University Teacher.”
UTAG

UTAG strike action

UTAG has been on strike since January 10, 2022, over government’s failure to review their conditions of service since 2017. The Association wants government to restore their 2012 conditions of service, which pegged the monthly income of entry-level lecturers at $2,084.

UTAG claims the current arrangement has reduced its members’ basic premiums to $997.84.

Previously, similar meetings on the subject of calling off the strike action, held between the leadership of UTAG, Parliament’s Education Committee, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the Education Minister and the Labour Minister, were all inconclusive.