The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and three other public universities’ staff unions have declared a strike effective Thursday, October 13, 2022.
The other unions are the Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG), the Teachers & Educational Workers Union (TEWU), and the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA).
This industrial action has been necessitated by what the unions describe as a blatant unilateral variation of agreed conditions of service in the face of hostile economic conditions.
A statement issued by the group today, October 5, 2022, said, “following the Press Conference by UTAG, GAUA, SSA-UoG, and TEWU-GH with FUSSAG in attendance on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at the University of Professional Studies, Accra, the National Leadership of the four Labour Unions have had a series of engagements between some stakeholders of tertiary education in Ghana, including Vice Chancellors Ghana (VCG).”
“Upon further deliberations among the National Leaders, we write to communicate that the intended strike action of all labour unions in the public universities in Ghana takes effect from Thursday, October 13, 2022,” the unions announced.
The national leadership of the labour unions, however, gave their employers “one crucial week” to rescind the decision that seeks to negatively affect the conditions of service of their members.
Read the full press statement below:
Before the release, the unions had asked the government to address their grievances or they would proceed with industrial action.
They wanted the government to settle their outstanding Online Teaching Support Allowance (OTSA) and non-payroll allowances.
Professor Solomon Nunoo, the President of UTAG, who spoke on behalf of the group, urged their Employer to pay them their book and research allowance to aid lecturers in effectively discharging their duties.
“The unions also take this opportunity to advise the Employer to be circumspect as we do not take delight in disrupting the academic calendar. Nevertheless, when compelled to do so, we will not hesitate.
“Therefore, the Employer should immediately rescind its intention to vary our conditions of service; else, teaching and related activities on all the campuses will be withdrawn with effect from Wednesday, October 5, 2022.
“We know the language that easily sinks in their psyche, and we will speak it in one week if they fail to heed to their agreement with us,” Prof. Nunoo threatened.