20% COLA: SSA-UG declare indefinite strike today

The Senior Staff Association of the Universities of Ghana has embarked on an indefinite strike. The strike takes effect from today, Wednesday, 13 July 2022.

The group mentioned the failure by government to pay the accrued interest on tier-2 pension arrears from 2010-2016 as reason for the strike.

They have also joined calls from labour for 20 per cent Cost of Living Allowance (COLA).

This comes on the back of strike action by teachers over COLA.

Meanwhile, government has reminded the four striking teacher unions that it cannot negotiate with them while they are on strike over the payment of their Cost of Living Allowance (COLA).

According to the government, it cannot negotiate with the striking teacher unions over their demand for the payment of COLA because of their strike action.

‘We cannot negotiate with you under duress,” the government said to the four teacher unions namely the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the Coalition of Concerned Teachers Association of Ghana and the Tertiary Education Workers Union (TEWU).

The Deputy Minister for Manpower and Labour Relations, Bright Wreko Brobbey served this notice while explaining why the teacher unions walked out of a meeting with labour unions to negotiate the payment of COLA on the 6:00 am news on Accra 100.5 FM on Wednesday, July 13, 2022.

He said it was against the labour relations regulations for the employer to negotiate with the employees while they are on strike.

“The employer cannot negotiate with striking workers,” he said.

He noted that the government is open to negotiations with the teachers if they call off the strike.