The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has rejected claims by the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) that differences in market premiums and other allowances between teaching and non-teaching senior members in public universities amount to discrimination.
UTAG argues that differences in remuneration do not necessarily mean that one category of workers is being treated unfairly, stressing that the two groups perform different roles and have varying professional requirements.
In a statement issued on Monday, August 10, the association said public universities employ professionals from different fields, including academics, administrators, accountants, auditors, librarians, lawyers and technicians.
Although their work contributes to the same university system, their responsibilities and demands are not identical.
UTAG therefore believes compensation should take into account the specific requirements of each profession instead of applying the same rate to all categories of employees.
It said issues such as qualifications, level of responsibility, scarcity of specialised skills, labour market conditions and the need to attract and retain professionals should guide decisions on market premiums.
The position comes after GAUA announced plans to resume its suspended strike over what it considers unequal market premiums and related allowances for teaching and non-teaching senior members.
GAUA has maintained that the differences are unfair because both categories work within the same public university system.
UTAG, however, challenged the argument that the 114% market premium harmonised for senior members under the Single Spine Salary Structure in 2012 should remain the basis for determining current remuneration.
Read Earlier Report: University administrators resume strike over allowance disparities
According to the teachers’ association, economic conditions, labour markets and institutional needs have changed considerably since 2012, making periodic reviews of compensation necessary.
UTAG said it supports efforts to improve the conditions of service of non-teaching senior members but disagrees that fairness requires professionals with different duties to receive identical compensation.
The association has called for an independent review of the remuneration structure involving government, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the Ministry of Education, the National Labour Commission and other stakeholders.
It said the review should consider qualifications, workload, responsibilities, promotion opportunities, labour market comparisons, staff retention and the overall benefits available to different professional groups.
