The Senior Staff Association-Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG), the Federation of Senior Staff Association of Ghana (FUSSAG), and the Teachers and Educational Workers Union of Trade Union Congress (TEWU-TUC) have announced that they will go on strike on August 9, 2024, if the government does not meet their demands for unpaid allowances.
In a joint press statement, the unions stated that on June 10, 2024, they filed grievances with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission of Ghana about the Vehicle Maintenance Allowance (VMA) and other associated allowances. They warned industrial strike action if the concerns were not remedied by June 21, 2024.
Read Also: ECG warns customers of unauthorized sales of fake meters
Following a hearing by the National Labour Commission on June 19, 2024, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission negotiated with the unions, culminating in the signing of an agreement and amendment. The Commission subsequently wrote to the Ministry of Finance demanding that monies be released for payment. Despite the unions’ many interactions, the Ministry has failed to give the appropriate authorization letter.
Universities receiving government subsidies have received payments, even arrears, but those immediately on the Controller and Accountant General’s payroll have not. Furthermore, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission has directed universities not to pay the new rate until the Ministry issues the authorization letter, resulting in delays even for those who were receiving the increased rate.
The unions accuse the government of using Machiavellian techniques to deny them their agreed-upon allowances and have given the Ministry of Finance until the end of business on August 8, 2024, to produce an authorization document. Failure to do so will result in unions launching industrial action the next day.
“The SSA-UoG, FUSSAG, and TEWU (TUC) are committed to fighting for the rights of our members and will not rest until justice is served,” according to the statement.
