The University of Ghana branch of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UG-UTAG) has descended heavily on its mother body for accepting some resolutions from government which they believe are unfavourable.
According to the group, the Negotiation Team must be reconstituted to draw on expertise of members selected across public universities, to ensure professional discussions during negotiations and quality outcomes beneficial to members of UTAG.
UTAG had earlier planned a strike action scheduled for 8th October, 2021 but reneged on its action after negotiations with the Ministry of Education
The group outrightly rejected the said amount of USD 1600 payable by 2024 as research allowance and instead, demanded the cedi equivalent of $2,084.
A signed statement cited by angelonline.com.gh read as follows: “It overwhelmingly rejects the said amount of USD 1600 payable by 2024, agreed in the MOA by the Negotiation Team (NT) and accepted by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of UTAG, as representing research allowance”.
The UG-UTAG members noted that “in place of the amount of USD 1600, which the NT negotiated and signed with government, UTAG-UG contends that it is entitled to and shall only accept the cedi equivalent of $2,084 which represents the entry point salary value of lecturers in 2013”.
The association arrived at the following resolutions at its emergency meeting held on Friday October 8, 2021 to discuss and vote on the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by the Negotiation Team of UTAG and government representatives in connection with the mandate granted to the former to negotiate for better Conditions of Service with the latter.
UG-UTAG had earlier sought permission from its mother association to be excused from the earlier agreed strike action which should have started on Friday, October 8, 2021, UTAG-UG affirms that it is committed to embarking on a strike action from January 2022 when the academic year is scheduled to begin, unless its demand as stated in clause 2 [that is, payment of the cedi equivalent of $2,084 as research allowance] is met.
They noted that based on the outcome of the Labor Market Survey scheduled for December 2021 they shall resume negotiations with government on the Market Premium and Basic Salary.
