University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has been commended by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for suspending the recent strike that they embarked on.
Nana Akufo-Addo stated that the government will consider the issues raised by the union and will work to resolve these issues.
The President made the above remarks during a meeting with the leadership of the National League of Students of Ghana (NUGS).
“I’m very pleased that the University Teachers’ Association agreed to suspend the strike after long negotiations and decided to return to the negotiating table. We hope that with the development of the roadmap, the parties will eventually be able to reach some binding arrangements, and hope that I can ensure that The roadmap is fully implemented."
"The academic work of our higher education institutions will not be disturbed, and teachers have the ability to undertake the very important obligations they undertake, which is in our own interests."
A two-week strike was suspended by UTAG on Wednesday agreeing to go back to the negotiation table.
After that, its leaders held an emergency meeting with the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations and the National Labor Council (NLC) on Wednesday, August 18, 2021.
The two parties [the government and UTAG] also decided to stop the legal process related to the prolonged strike and give themselves a month to resolve all outstanding issues.
"We have suspended [strike]. People will realize that our strike has brought many things to a halt, so I believe things will return to normal when the management of the universities gives orders," UTAG National Chair Professor Charles Marfo said Confirmed on Eyewitness News.
After the meeting, a memorandum of agreement signed between the government and UTAG stated that “the two sides agreed that it is necessary to return to the negotiating table from the week starting on Monday, August 23, 2021.”
During this period, the government and UTAG will negotiate the research portion of the book and research allowance, market premiums, and non-basic allowances.
After discussion, the two parties reached the following agreement:
1. The two groups (UTAG and the government) came into an agreement that they will go back to the negotiating table from the week beginning on Monday, August 23, 2021.
2. The negotiation route was agreed upon by both parties in previous consultation meetings, stipulating that a one-month compulsory negotiation period will begin on August 23, 2021, and be signed by both parties.
3. Although the Department of Employment and Labor Relations and NLC are taking steps to stop all legal proceedings against UTAG, UTAG will also take steps to suspend ongoing strike actions.
4. The government recognizes the need to improve the working conditions of university teachers and will treat this matter with due seriousness.
Industrial action
UTAG members have been on strike since August 2021 because they want the government to restore the conditions of service agreed in 2012, which they say is far better than the current situation.
The 2012 Single Spine package makes the salary of an entry-level instructor $2,084, while the salary of a current-level instructor is about $900.
The recent strike that UTAG embarked on has had impacts on both academic and non-academic works on various campuses of the University.
The Labor Department of the High Court recommended on the 1st that the National Labor Council (NLC) and UTAG resolve the deadlock in out-of-court industrial action.
Source: Citinewsroom
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