The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has said it will not relent if the source of livelihood of its members comes under threat.
UTAG’s comment comes after the Labour Court 1 Division of the High Court asked the National Labour Commission (NLC) to settle its impasse with UTAG out of court.
The NLC was in court seeking enforcement of its orders defied by public university teachers in the country after asking UTAG to call off its ongoing strike.
“UTAG, we are calm, respectful and law abiding. But like any human group, when pushed to the wall, we do not enter the wall. When our very source of livelihood is threatened, we cannot be meek. We can also be tough and resilient,” general secretary of the University of Ghana chapter of UTAG Prof Ransford Gyampo posted on Facebook.
Compel your members to return to work
Ofosu Asamoah, the executive secretary of the National Labour Commission (NLC), has urged university authorities to compel lecturers to resume lectures.
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has been on strike since 10 January to demand better conditions of service.
According to the association, the government has breached the timelines agreed for resolution, hence their industrial action.
The NLC declared the strike by the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) as illegal.
However, a statement from the UG chapter of UTAG, indicated that the association remains resolute to continue its industrial action until their issues are resolved.
Speaking with Kwaku Nhyira-Addo on The Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday (18 January) Ofosu Asamoah urged managers of the various university campuses to take responsibility and ensure their teachers return to work.
He said: “These are staff of the university. At the universities are managers, you have the vice chancellors who are at the helm of affairs and then we have the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission; these are people you have engaged to work and they say that they will not work. The first action or option is for the managers of the universities who have been told that what your staff is doing is illegal to take a decision or else the situation will continue.”
“…Managers of the universities must now take action but if they sit down there expecting that National Labour Commission said is illegal, they have a role to play and that is where the charge should come from now.”
On Tuesday (18 January), the government was said to be in a meeting with Vice Chancellors Ghana to find a solution regarding the demands of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG).
Bright Wireku Brobbey, a deputy minister of employment and labour relations who spoke to Beatrice Adu on the Big Bulletin on (18 January), said it was necessary to engage Vice Chancellors Ghana to explain the government’s position.
Vice Chancellors Ghana is expected to meet with the leadership of UTAG to find a solution to the impasse.
Fred Dzakpata
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