UTAG to resume strike if govt fails to honour demands in 14 days

The growing agitation on labour front may be far from over after University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) revealed it will resume its suspended nationwide strike if government fails to fulfil its promise and demands tabled to improve the worsening conditions of striking lecturers within 14 days. UTAG until today has been on strike, accusing government of dragging its feet when it comes to fulfilling agreement signed in 2012.

UTAG made public the suspension of its over forty days industrial action at an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Monday at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).

It follows an Accra High Court order to the striking UTAG to return to the classrooms to usher-in negotiations to the resolution of their grievances.

Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Tuesday 22 February 2022, UTAG National President Prof Solomon Nunoo issued stern warnings that UTAG membership are unhappy and that we expect the government to carry through its promises, adding that they will go to all extents to see to it that an improvement of its conditions of service.

Prof. Nunoo noted that the striking university lecturers expect the government to honour its promises after the involvement of some eminent individuals in the negotiation process including Sam Jonah.

“We know that the government has not fulfilled its part of the bargaining agreement in the recent past; however, due to the involvement of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education and other eminent persons, we expect the government to carry through its promises this time around”.

“We’ll, however, not hesitate to resume the suspended strike should government renege on its commitment at the end of the stipulated period of negotiation. We call on the government to take advantage of this window to help improve the salary and general working conditions of the university teacher,” he urged.

Prof. Nunoo also called on the government to see to the implementation of the several agreements that have been signed in recent times.

He was ‘cautiously optimistic’ that the employer would do the needful to improve the general working conditions of university teachers.

For me, I am still on campus and I am not going home – Student reacts to UTAG strike suspension.

Meanwhile, the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) Chapter of UTAG has voted against the suspension of the strike.

Source: africaneditors.com