The University of Cape Coast Chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) says it will only call off its strike action after government reviews and improves their conditions of service.
Chapter President, Dr. Samuel Boadi-Kusi explained they have taken this entrenched position because of the deception and continuous refusal of government to offer them their due after convincing them to suspend previous strike actions.
“We are where we are today because the National Labour Commission (NLC) has asked us to call of the strike so we negotiate. We once called off the strike and after consultations nothing was resolved so there is a level of mistrust now. As employees we’ve not received salary increment for years. For nine (9) years after the pay policy was introduced it has never been reviewed and we want that to change,” he stated.
UTAG has been on strike since January 10 to force the government to restore the conditions of service agreed upon in 2012.
The 2012 conditions of service pegged the Basic plus Market Premium of a lecturer at $2,084.42.
UTAG has complained that the current arrangement has reduced its members’ basic premiums to $997.84.
He reiterated that past experiences have forced them (UTAG) to wisen up and the mistrust will now see UTAG go on with the strike until their demands are met by government.
On his accord, the NLC which is supposed to be a referee between UTAG and their employer took them to court and were asked to negotiate a settlement. “We consulted with our legal team and they believe we will see no progress if we keep on negotiating with the NLC so we have asked them (NLC) to facilitate a meeting between us and our employers. So we will be meeting with the Ministry of Education to discuss our issues this Tuesday,” he told Samuel Eshun on the Happy Morning Show.
Dr. Samuel Boadi-Kusi was quick to add that if this meeting yields no results, the strike will continue unabated.
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