UTAG begins indefinite strike action today
True to their word, the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG ) has commenced another industrial action from today Monday, January 10 2022.
The association had initially lamented in the statement on January 6, 2022, about the seeming lack of trust that has characterized negotiations with the Fair Wages and Salary Commission.
This has necessitated the move by the National Executive Committee of UTAG to withdraw their teaching-related activities including examinations, invigilation, marking of examination scripts and processing of examination results.
UTAG has also been appealing to the government to restore the 2012 conditions of service.
The 2012 conditions of service pegged the Basic plus Market Premium of a lecturer at $2,084.42 but the current arrangement, UTAG says has reduced its members’ basic premiums to $997.84.
In a statement released on Saturday, January 8, heralding the strike action, UTAG stated that “At its emergency meetings held on Tuesday and Friday, 4th and 7th January 2022, respectively, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of UTAG discussed the worsening Conditions of Service (CoS) of the University Teacher and the failure of the Employer in addressing the plight of UTAG members within the agreed timelines.”
It stated the worsening condition of service of its members following the failure of the government to review the Interim Market Premium which they believed if done following the 2019 Labour Market Survey would have placed teachers on a better salary.
“For the reasons stated above, the NEC of UTAG at its meeting held on 7th January 2022 reiterated its resolve to follow through with the decision to withdraw teaching and related activities until further notice with effect from Monday, 10th January 2022 and call on all UTAG members across the fifteen (15) branches to observe this directive,” parts of the statement read.
See the full statement below.
By: Stella Annan | myactiveonline.com Twitter @activetvgh
