NLC platform not credible for our negotiation – UTAG bemoans
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has rejected provisions by the National Labour Commission (NLC) to resolve issues that had led to a nationwide strike.
UTAG indicated that it was ready to utilise any other opportunity that would make them end their ongoing labour unrest in the interest of students and the angry lecturers.
Nonetheless, it does not see the negotiation table of NLC as one, which could resolve the matter.
According to the Secretary-elect of UTAG, Professor Ransford Van Gyampo, in the end, they were still committed to lasting solutions.
“At the end of the day, we’re looking for solutions to the problems that we have articulated. So if there are going to be genuinely credible and sincere platforms, we may have to cut the anger and make use of the platforms and see whether our concerns will be addressed,” he noted
Describing the NLC as “biased”, he said, “If we’ll have a credible platform that will ensure that there is a candid dialogue, then would d have to make use of that platform,” Prof Gyampo said.
He pointed out that currently, there are apprehensions on various university campuses among lecturers over their condition of service. As such, the national leadership would have to convince them that “we cannot be angry in perpetuity.”
“There have been heated arguments, and people (lecturers) are not happy. It will take a lot of efforts to calm them down and to let them accept the fact that regardless of our concerns, we must negotiate,” he noted.
The Associate Political Science professor underscored that as a union, UTAG’s interest is to see to the smooth and seamless academic work on university campuses.
Nonetheless, the members are forced to take actions that result in the disruption of academic work.
“We are teachers and what makes us happy is being able to fulfil our calling; being able to teach, examine and see students pass their exams. That is our position, but sometimes circumstances may push us into taking decisions to embark on strike, the secretary elect opined.
On the call by President Nana Akufo-Addo for the union to end its strike, Prof Gyampo said that the strike action required all relevant stakeholders, including the government, to do their part.
“We’re not interested in disrupting academic calendar, and if there are such calls coming from the number one citizen of the land (the president), we’d also expect that such calls are backed with genuine, sincere actions that will ensure that whatever that pushes lecturers to threaten to disrupt academic calendar are nipped in the bud,” he expressed.
Meanwhile, he has hinted that the union has taken steps to ensure that it ends its strike action, following the withdrawal of the court case by the NLC against UTAG.
He indicated that engagements were going to be held on the university campuses to determine the way forward.
UTAG agrees to end strike
A Memorandum of Agreement between the government and UTAG has shown that the striking lecturers have accepted to suspend their strike.
This follows an emergency meeting with the NLC and the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations.
Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Minister of Education, signed for the government while Professor Charles Ofosu Marfo, National President of UTAG, signed on behalf of the Association.
Per the agreement, it is expected that UTAG and the government would, from Monday, August 23, begin negotiations on demand by the union for the implementation of a 2012 Single Spine package, which put entry-level lecturers on a salary of $2,084.
Universities call off exams
Following the decision of UTAG to embark on strike, the end of semester exams of public universities, including the University of Ghana (UG) and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) was suspended indefinitely.
At a Business and Executive Meeting held on Friday, August 6, the Management of UG resolved to terminate the end-of-semester exams for first and final-year students.
In addition, the university adjourned the resumption of school for level 200 and level 300 batches for the second semester.
The university also noted that though it remained open, academic activities would resume when services were restored.
Similarly, KNUST called off the end of semester exams for students.
This was contained in a statement issued on Friday, August 6, by the university and endorsed by the Deputy Registrar in charge of Academic Affairs at KNUST, Margaret Dzisi.
Mrs Dzisi added that a new schedule for the examinations will be released at the appropriate time” and apologised for any inconvenience caused.
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