The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has urged its members to resume their suspended strike over inadequate working conditions on Friday, October 8, 2021.
This was stated in a communiqué sent to the organization’s members on Tuesday, October 5, 2021.
The decision was made on Friday, October 1, 2021, according to the communiqué.
UTAG maintains that the decision was made because talks with the government had reached a deadlock a month after it halted the last 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.”
As a result, it concluded, “For this reason, the National Executive Committee of UTAG at its meeting on October 1, 2021, resolved that if the Employer’s position remains unchanged by Friday, October 8, 2021, members should resume the suspension of teaching and related activities until further notice.”
UTAG members have been on strike since the beginning of August 2021, demanding that the government restore the service conditions agreed upon in 2012, which they claim are much better than the current situation.
The 2012 Single Spine package paid entry-level lecturers $2,084, while the current level pays academics approximately $900.
The UTAG strike had a significant impact on academic and non-academic activities at different tertiary institutions.
The High Court’s Labour Division, 1 recommended the National Labour Commission (NLC) and UTAG to reach an out-of-court settlement over their industrial action.
UTAG has previously said that it would only call off its strike if negotiations with the government and the NLC are fruitful.
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