Government has not engaged us – UTAG

The University Teachers Association of Ghana, UTAG, has disclosed that government is yet to engage its leadership on the ongoing strike and yet to make a proposal in response to their demands.

UTAG  been asking government to restore the conditions of service agreed upon in 2012 which pegged the Basic plus Market Premium of a lecturer at $2,084.42.

Current arrangements pay each lecturer $997.84 in basic premium.

UTAG’s industrial action which began on Monday, January 10, 2022 has entered its fourth week.

Per the guidelines governing public tertiary universities, if academic works does not commence 31 days after the scheduled date, schools will be shutdown.

This reality has stakeholders in the education sector on the edge, especially students. There have been calls on both government and UTAG to quickly resolve this impasse so the academic calendar is not upset.

But in an interview with MX24 News, the National President for UTAG, Dr. Solomon Nunoo noted that “the employer has not engaged us or made any proposals in response to what we are demanding. How then can we go to the negotiation table.”

“They should propose something so we know on what basis we are going to be negotiating but nothing has been said,” he added.

Meanwhile, government insists it cannot negotiate with any entity that is on strike and is asking UTAG to call off the strike and come to the negotiation table.

Speaking to MX24 News, the Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Education, Akwasi Kwarteng said “our laws are clear. Government cannot negotiate with any group that is on strike. UTAG has made its point and it is a valid one. However, they need to call off the strike so we can go to the table to resolve.”

However, UTAG maintains that government has not shown good faith in the past. Hence, its reluctance to heed government’s calls.

UTAG is expected to in court on February 3, 2022 over a suit by the National Labour Commission, which has declared their strike illegal.