Following the cessation of its industrial action on Wednesday [August 18, 2021], the National Labour Commission (NLC) has dropped its lawsuit against the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG).
The NLC was in court, contesting the validity of UTAG’s strike, which had jeopardized the academic calendar of public institutions. UTAG, on the other hand, had remained combative, accusing the NLC of acting in bad faith in its negotiations with the teacher union.
Yehoda Kotey, the NLC’s lawyer, told the Court today [Thursday] about the memorandum of agreement signed at Wednesday’s meeting between UTG, the Employment and Labour Relations Ministry, the Education Ministry, and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission.
Following the MoU, UTAG stopped its strike, and the NLC petitioned the Court to declare the strike lifted.
At the NLC’s request, Justice Frank Rockson Aboadwe dismissed the case.
The parties are now likely to resume talks on market premiums, book allowances, and other UTAG issues.
Following the deliberations, the parties have agreed as follows:
1. That both parties (Government and UTAG) agree that there is a need to get back to the negotiating table from the week beginning Monday, August 23, 2021.
2. That a road for negotiation, as agreed at previous consultative meetings between the parties, which imposes a one-month mandatory period beginning 23rd August 2021 for negotiations, shall be signed by both parties;
3. That whilst the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations in conjunction with the NLC is taking steps to discontinue all legal processes against UTAG, UTAG will also take steps to suspend the ongoing strike action;
4. That government acknowledges the need to improve the working conditions of University Teachers and shall treat this will all the seriousness it deserves.
The industrial action
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 superior to the present scenario.
The 2012 Single Spine package paid entry-level professors $2,084, while the current level pays academics approximately $900.
The UTAG strike has 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.
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