The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has embarked on an indefinite strike notice of which was contained in a release dated January 8, 2022.
Their decision, according to the release, is hinged upon the worsening Conditions of Service (CoS) of university teachers and the failure of the employer, the state for that matter, to address their plight “within agreed timelines.”
They cautioned government to be mindful about the uneasiness among university teachers and to act with dispatch lest the already fragile academic calendar is exacerbated to the detriment of all stakeholders.
The university teachers are also demanding of the government “to reconsider the payment of a more realistic research allowance as this is critical to our research output, promotion and ultimately national development.” The current annual research allowance for them is pittance.
Their action, which takes effect from today, is the culmination of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of UTAG meeting held on January 7, 2022 during which it was resolved that they follow through to withdraw teaching and related activities until further notice directive which has been served all the fifteen member branches across the country.
Another demand the teachers are making is the restoration by government “the 2013 IMP of 114% of Basic Salary in the interim whilst Government goes ahead to formulate guidelines to implement the appropriate recommendations to address the CoS of the University Teacher.”
The January 8, 2022 release made reference to an earlier communiqué dated November 11, 2021 and December 24, 2021 on a similar subject.
They also recalled the Interim Market Premium (IMP) instituted following the implementation of the Single Spine Pay Policy got frozen, per a Government White Paper, in 2013, for the purpose of the conduct of a Labour Market Survey (LMS) to determine a MP payable to workers deserving of it, adding that “this determination has not been made, which has resulted in the erosion of the University Teacher’s salary.”
They questioned how a National Agenda could be attained if the CoS of the University Teacher keeps worsening year-on-year, leading to an ever-increasing attrition rate on our campuses. “Now or Never,” the release concluded to enhance their seriousness.
The release was signed by Prof. Solomon Nunoo, Dr. Asare Asante-Annor, National President; Dr. Samuel Nkumbaan, President UG; Prof. Otchere Addai-Mensah, President KNUST; Dr. Samuel Bert Boadi-Kusi President UCC; Dr. Felix Longi Y. T., President UDS, University of Mines and Technology (UMaT); Mr. Reginald Djimatey, President UENR; Dr. Reuben Ayivor-Djanie, President UHAS; Dr. Richard Fosu Amankwa, President UPSA.
The rest are Dr. Kodwo J. A. Boateng, President GIJ; Dr. Pascal Kpodo, Vice President UEW; Dr. Jonas Bugase, President CKTUTAS; Mr. Samuel Kingsford Seglah, President GCTU, Dr. Christian Larbi Ayisi, President UESD, and Dr. Joseph K. Wulifan, President SDD-UBIDS.
By A.R. Gomda