UTAG to resume strike on Friday over poor conditions of service
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), has asked its members to resume their suspended strike on Friday, October 8, 2021, over poor conditions of service.
This was contained in a communique issued to its members on Tuesday, October 5, 2021.
According to the said communique, the decision was arrived at on Friday, October 1, 2021.
UTAG insists that the decision has become necessary because negotiations with the government are in stalemate a month after it suspended the earlier strike.
“Following the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement with the Employer to complete the negotiations on the Conditions of Service of University Teachers within one (1) month by resolving all outstanding issues, which formed the basis for suspending the strike, it is sad to report that the one-month moratorium has elapsed and the negotiation has almost reached a stalemate.”
UTAG also added that “Unfortunately, within the one-month moratorium, the Employer never shifted its position even though UTAG made a number of concessions.”
It thus concluded that “For this reason, the National Executive Committee of UTAG at its meeting held on October 1, 2021, resolved that if the Employer’s position remains unchanged by Friday, 8th of October 2021, members should resume the suspension of teaching and related activities until further notice.”
About earlier strike
UTAG members had been on strike since the beginning of August 2021 because they want the government to restore the conditions of service agreed upon in 2012 which they said was far better than the current situation.
The 2012 Single Spine package put entry-level lecturers on a salary of $2,084 while the current level puts lecturers’ salaries around $900.
The strike by UTAG severely affected academic and some non-academic work at the various tertiary campuses.
The High Court’s Labour Division, 1, advised the National Labour Commission (NLC), and UTAG, to settle the stalemate over their industrial action out of Court.
UTAG had earlier indicated that it will only call off its strike completely upon successful negotiation with the government and the NLC.
