Ofosu Asamoah
The Executive Secretary of the National Labour Commission (NLC), Ofosu Asamoah, has described the ongoing strike by labour unions in the educational sector as ‘unjustified’ and ‘unnecessary’.
Speaking in an interview with CitiFM on Wednesday, January 3, he said the strike action lacked merit, especially at a time when they have made efforts to engage the disgruntled unions.
“There was an agreement between the parties involved. You leave the commission to go and declare a strike, and all others have also joined. You have put something across, and you have agreed, why go on strike when your issues have been resolved? Why do you want to be on strike when those issues that have not been resolved are being resolved by your good self?
“It’s quite an unfortunate situation. It’s like, at the moment, the strike is becoming a tool that is being misused. I fail to find the legs on which they were standing to declare the strike and close all universities. As if they just want to close it for fun. Their strike is unmeritorious, it’s needless,” he said.
Labour unions across the country have currently laid down their tools over issues of neglect by employers to meet their welfare needs, Tier-2 pension funds, and vehicle maintenance allowance among others.
The unions include the Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana, Federation of Universities Senior Staff (FUSSAG), Teachers and Educational Workers Union of Ghana (TEWU), and Ghana Association of University Administrators.
Mr. Asamoah, however, urged the unions to halt the strike actions, and resume negotiations with the NLC.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah