UTAG returns to negotiation table today

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and other key stakeholders return to the negotiation table today (Wednesday, August 25, 2021) after calling-off their strike last week.

The negotiations which are at the instance of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) will take place at the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations at 10am and focus on the conditions of services for members of UTAG.

An invitation signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the FWSC, Dr Edward Kwapong and addressed to the stakeholders indicates that the Minister of Education Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Bright Wireko-Brobby and the Deputy Minister of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen will be present at the negotiation.

Background

The leadership of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) on Friday, August 20, 2021, directed its members on the various campuses to resume academic work immediately, pending the final outcome of its deliberations with the government on its grievances.

This follows the suspension of its industrial action which started on Monday, August 2, 2021.

On Wednesday, August 18, 2021, a Memorandum of Agreement ( MoU) was jointly signed by the government and UTAG which acknowledged the need for government to improve the working conditions of University Teachers.

Demand

The UTAG on August 2, 2021, began an industrial action over what it said was the failure of the government to restore 2012 salary levels for its members.

Members of the UTAG demand a restoration of their 2021 salary levels and improvement in their conditions of service.

NLC

Following the declaration of the strike, the National Labour Commission (NLC) directed the associations to call off their actions but UTAG refused, thereby compelling the commission to proceed to the High Court to seek an injunction to stop the university teachers from continuing their action.

Not satisfied with the action of the commission, the association filed a motion at the same court to challenge the order to call off its industrial action.

Both the NLC and the association were in court on Monday, August 16, 2021, where the presiding judge advised them to endeavour to settle the matter out of court.

When the case was called on Thursday, August 19, 2021, the Labour Division of the Accra High Court struck out the suit filed by the NLC after the commission decided to stop pursuing the case.

The decision paved the way for UTAG and the government to return to the negotiation table to resolve the dispute per the road map outlined in the MoU.