Members of the the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has declared their intention to embark on strike from Monday, January 10, 2022.
With effect, all members of UTAG nationwide will be withdrawing their services for the time being.
According to the management of UTAG, the strike is announced as a result of government’s failure to address the poor conditions experienced and complained by the lecturers. These conditions of service have been seen to worsen with time.
In a communique dated January 8, 2022, The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) made their decision known to the public.
In the communique, they explained that government has flouted the agreed timelines to address their concerns.
They added that the strike announced to begin on Monday, 10th January 2022. UTAG “reiterated its resolve to follow through with the decision to withdraw teaching and related activities until further notice.”
“Generally, our members have decried the pittance agreed to be paid as annual research allowance and would want to have government reconsider the payment of a more realistic research allowance as this is critical to our research output, promotion and ultimately national development,” a portion of the communique read.
UTAG has asked their employers to immediately, restore members to the 2013 Interim Market Premium (IMP) of 114% of Basic Salary in the interim.
Also, they want the government to formulate guidelines to implement the appropriate recommendations to address the conditions of service of the university teacher.
“Following the uneasiness among UTAG members, any delay by the Employer would further exacerbate
the already fragile academic calendar to the detriment of all stakeholders,” they added.
Somewhere in August 2021, UTAG first went on strike which lasted for many weeks. They demanded that the government reinstate the service conditions agreed upon in 2012, which they claimed were significantly superior to those in place now.
Following the strike, the government and UTAG signed a Memorandum of Agreement that both parties agree that there is a need to return to the bargaining table Monday, August 23rd, 2021.
UTAG after some months, claims that their concerns have not been handled as agreed upon timescales in previous conversations for months.
They have therefore decided to go on Strike from Monday January 10, 2022.
By Vincent Kubi