The National Labour Commission (NLC) has invited the government, University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), and all other stakeholders to a meeting today, to find solution to the on-going strike by the association.
A statement signed by the Director of Administration and Human Resource of the NLC, Dr Mrs Bernice Welbeck, said the initiative was in line with its mandate under section 138 of Act 651 and also in exercise of its powers under section 139 of Act 651.
The NLC revealed that the UTAG faulted when the commission was not served the appropriate note for immediate intervention.
“UTAG should have complied with section 159 of Act 651 where the Commission would be served the required notice to enable it intervene immediately,” the statement said.
It said that in accordance with COVID-19 protocol, the representation by each side at the meeting was restricted to a maximum of two persons.
The UTAG, in a communique issued after its emergency meeting last Saturday, announced the withdrawal of services of its members effective January, 10, 2022.
According to the association, the industrial action was warranted by “the worsening conditions of service (CoS) of the university teachers and the failure of the employer in addressing the plight of UTAG members within the agreed timelines.”
“For the reasons stated above, the NEC of UTAG at its meeting held on January7, 2022 reiterated its resolve to follow through with the decision to withdraw teaching and related activities until further notice with effect from Monday, 10 January 2022 and call on all UTAG members across the fifteen (15) branches to observe this directive,” it said.
The statement indicated that “as a matter of urgency, we also call on the employer to restore members to the 2013 IMP of 114 per cent of basic salary in the interim while government goes ahead to formulate guidelines to implement the appropriate recommendations to address the CoS 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.”
Meanwhile, Professor Solomon Nunoo, the National President of UTAG, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday, said the association was ready to meet the NLC and other stakeholders over its strike.
He said “we are organising ourselves to meet the Commission on Thursday and we hope our concerns will be addressed.”
Prof. Nunoo, in reaction to complying with section 159 of Act 651, said UTAG submitted its concerns to NLC, but was informed by a security officer that the Commission was on break from December 20, 2021, to January 10, 2022, and had to send it by registered mail.
On UTAG’s expectation for the meeting, he said the association remained optimistic to a peaceful resolution of the issues, stressing, “We are hoping that government will meet our demands.”
BY JESSEL LARTEY THERSON-COFIE