Following the University Teachers Association of Ghana’s (UTAG) suspension of its industrial action on Wednesday on August 18, 2021, the National Labour Commission (NLC), has withdrawn its lawsuit against the association.
The NLC describing as an illegality sued UTAG for going on an industrial strike. The strike brought to a halt all academic activities in various universities. But UTAG remained loudmouthed, accusing the NLC of not being fair to the union.
UTAG members have been on strike since the beginning of August 2021 because they want the government to restore the conditions of service agreed upon in 2012 which they said was far better than the current situation.
The 2012 Single Spine package put entry-level lecturers on a salary of $2,084 while the current level puts lecturers’ salaries around $900.
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However, the court presided over by Justice Frank Rockson Aboadwe struck out the suit after the Lawyer for the NLC, Yehoda Kotey, informed the Court about the memorandum of understanding reached during Wednesday’s meeting involving UTG, Employment and Labour Relations Ministry, Education Ministry and the Fair wages and Salaries Commission.
Following the deliberations, the parties have agreed as follows:
- That both parties (Government and UTAG) agree that there is a need to get back to the negotiating table from the week beginning Monday, August 23, 2021.
- That a road for negotiation, as agreed at previous consultative meetings between the parties, which imposes a one-month mandatory period beginning 23rd August 2021 for negotiations, shall be signed by both parties;
- That whilst the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations in conjunction with the NLC is taking steps to discontinue all legal processes against UTAG, UTAG will also take steps to suspend the ongoing strike action;
- That government acknowledges the need to improve the working conditions of University Teachers and shall treat this will all the seriousness it deserves.