The National Labour Commission (NLC) is expected to meet the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) today January 12, 2022, over the ongoing strike by the teacher union.
The meeting according to the Commission is for a “hearing of the issues in dispute”.
It comes on the back of allegations by UTAG that the FWSC had delayed in releasing the report of the Labour Market Survey (LMS).
NLC in a 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.”
To this end, the meeting is being convened in line with the NLC’s mandate under section 138 of Act 651 and also powers under section 139 of Act 651.
“The parties are urged to take note of the time and date and appear as scheduled,” the statement further urged.
Background
University Teachers Association of Ghana, UTAG began a nationwide strike today January 10, 2022.
A statement announcing the decision to strike said: "We refer to our communiqués dated 11th November 2021 and 24th December 2021 with reference numbers UTAG/NAT/2021/IM-003 and UTAG/NAT/2021/IM-004, respectively."
"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."
"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."
"As a matter of urgency, we also call on the Employer to restore members to the 2013 IMP of 114% of Basic Salary in the interim whilst Government goes ahead to formulate guidelines to implement the appropriate recommendations to address the CoS of the University Teacher."