FOUR LABOUR unions in Ghana’s public universities have served notice that they will embark on an indefinite strike beginning October 13, 2022, if government does not resolve issues regarding the conditions of service of its members.
The unions, in a statement issued and signed by their national leaders, indicated that their decision to embark on the industrial action stems out of what they described as “blatant unilateral variation of service in the face of hostile economic conditions.”
The four labour unions seeking to embark on the strike comprise the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), Tertiary Education Workers Union (TEWU), Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG), and the Ghana Association of University Administration (GAUA).
The unions indicated that they have given government and all stakeholders in tertiary education in Ghana “one crucial week to reverse the directive that seeks to negatively compromise the conditions of service of university workers.”
“The national leadership of the labour unions in the public universities in Ghana entreat all members to stay calm and cooperate with leadership as we navigate this trying moment,” it added.
UTAG, on September 29, 2022, threatened to withdraw its services if the government failed to pay the book and research allowance agreed upon.
It was not the first time the unions had threatened to lay down their working tools, as they had done so in previous months over the amount, they saw fit as their research allowance.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, President of UTAG, Prof. Solomon Nunoo, implored the government to amongst other demands, pay the book and research allowance to aid lecturers in effectively discharging their duties.
“The employer should remember that we are in the new academic year, for which reason continuous delay in the payment is unacceptable,” he added.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak