The Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) has called on stakeholders, particularly the government to as a matter of urgency, resolve all labour agitations to avoid a total shutdown of public universities.
According to GAUA, per statutes of the universities, public universities in Ghana would be compelled to shut down if 21 days of non-academic work had gone by and currently no immediate steps have been taken by government to meet the demands of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG).
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), on Monday, January 10, embarked on a nationwide strike, over poor conditions of service.
According to the embattled lecturers, the government has failed to honour its promises to them, despite series of meetings and negotiations, towards the improvement of their working conditions.
UTAG, therefore, stated that they will only return to the classroom if all their concerns are addressed.
In a press release signed by the National President, Kwabena Antwi-Konadu, the Association indicated that their members are equally affected by the worsening conditions of service and urged the government to restore the Interim Market Premium of 114% calculated on the basic salaries of senior members of the public universities in line with the single spine salary structure, 2012.
“GAUA is very disturbed about the present situation on the campuses of public universities in Ghana. We are therefore appealing to government to immediately restore the interim market Premium and resolve all related issues which are the current cause of the disruption of an already challenged academic calendar as a result of COVID-19”
The association further urged the national labour commission to withdraw all lawsuits in court to allow the ministry of employment and labor relations champion negotiations with UTAG
The release also stressed that the association is solidly behind UTAG members in demanding what is due them.
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Source: Vera Siripi/ATLFMNEWS
