Strike Suspended: UTAG and Gov’t to complete negotiations within 1 month

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has suspended its withdrawal of teaching and related activities on member campuses with immediate effect to pave way for the commencement of negotiations.

In a circular issued today, July 20, 2021 signed by Prof Charles Marfo, National President and Dr Eric K. K. Abavare, National Secretary of the UTAG, it referred to its circular dated 30th July 2021 on the above subject, but has today suspended the move after a meeting on Wednesday.

The circular stated that, “ A Government team, represented by the Ministries of Employment and Labour Relations and Education, on one part and UTAG, represented by the National Officers and Presidents or their representatives of the various branches, on the other part met on Wednesday, 18th August 2021 to deliberate on the present strike action by UTAG and the way forward.”

The meeting led to a roadmap for amicably resolving all outstanding issues regarding the conditions of service of UTAG members within 1 month starting next week.

“At the meeting, both parties agreed to a roadmap to complete all issues related to the negotiations on the conditions of service of UTAG members within one (1) month from the week beginning 23rd August, 2021.

It is our hope that the roadmap agreed to by the parties, which was an important condition for the suspension of the strike action, in addition to NLC's withdrawal of the legal suits against UTAG, will be strictly followed by the Government side of the negotiations.” the circular added.

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of UTAG, thus, agreed to suspend its industrial action to allow for negotiations to start.

“In view of this development, we write on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of UTAG and in consultation with members to announce the SUSPENSION of the withdrawal of teaching and related activities by members with immediate effect to pave way for the negotiations to commence.” it stated.

The Association urged all its members to have faith in leadership as [the leadership] work to improve their conditions of service.

The UTAG further admonished the members to comply with the directive and act accordingly.

Background

UTAG members have been on strike since the beginning of August 2021 because they want the government to restore the conditions of service agreed upon in 2012 which they said was far better than the current situation.

The 2012 Single Spine package put entry-level lecturers on a salary of $2,084 while the current level puts lecturers’ salaries around $900.

The strike by UTAG has severely affected academic and some non-academic work at the various tertiary campuses.

The NLC was in court challenging the legality of UTAG’s strike, which had threatened the stability of the academic calendar of public universities. But UTAG had remained belligerent, accusing the NLC of bad faith in its dealings with the teacher union.

However, after the signing of a Memoradum of Understanding (MoU), UTAG suspended its strike and the NLC prayed the Court to strike out its action as withdrawn.

The High Court’s Labour Division, 1, advised the National Labour Commission (NLC), and UTAG, to settle the stalemate over their industrial action out of Court.