The leadership of the striking University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) have been invited to an emergency meeting this Wednesday, January 12, 2022.
The arbiter, National Labour Commission (NLC), has equally asked the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), to be present.
The meeting, which the NLC says shall be for a “hearing of the issues in dispute, is expected to commence by 2:30 pm.
The statement by the Labour Commission further stated that in view of the COVID-19 protocols, the representation by each side is restricted to two persons.
The development follows the indefinite strike called by teachers of all public Universities in protest over poor conditions of service and the lip service to promises to address their concerns. The aggrieved University teachers are also accusing the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission of delaying release of the report of the Labour Market Survey (LMS).
The Labour Commission however expressed reservation about UTAG’s action.
Part of the statement said, “UTAG should have complied with section 159 of Act 651 where the Commission would be served the required notice to enable it to intervene immediately.”
UTAG began an indefinite strike today, Monday, January 10, 2022. All members are to withdraw from teaching and other activities like examinations, invigilation, marking of examination scripts, and the processing of examination results.
The association, in a statement dated January 6, 2022, complained about what it refers to as the lack of trust that has so far characterized its engagements with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC).
The association is demanding the restoration of the conditions of service agreed upon in 2012, which pegged the Basic plus Market Premium of a lecturer at $2,084.42.
It maintains that the current arrangement which has reduced basic premiums to $997.84 is woefully inadequate.
Source: Myxyzonline.com|Ghana