Labour Commission declares strike by UTAG, CETAG illegal

UTAG #StudentsAreSufferingDemo

The ongoing industrial strike by the Universities Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has been declared illegal by the National Labour Commission (NLC).

This directive comes after the NLC together with the Ministry of Employment held a meeting with the leadership of UTAG and CETAG on Thursday January 13 2022..

At the end of the meeting, the NLC and the Ministry of employment concluded that the strike action by the two labour unions is illegal.

Speaking to press men after the meeting, the deputy Minister for employment, Bright Wireku Brobbey, asked the leadership of UTAG and CETAG to call off the strike action.

“In the spirit of transparency and very mutual respect for them, they have assured them that whatever allowance is due them because they were captured in the 2022 budget January they are going to be paid. Therefore the Commission has directed that they go and call off the strike immediately. This is something that is good for Ghana expecting that schools had just reopened , parents had just seen of their wards to the various institution. I am glad that CETAG has also be asked so let us expect that they do the needful and then we have peace.”

”The National Labour Commission is a state institution. Indeed of labour institution are litigating there must be somebody to arbitrate. This is the legally mandated institution, they have heard us and they have issued their directive. It is my expectation that UTAG will also call off their striker,” Bright Wireku Brobbey, told press men.

The National Council for CETAG suspended teaching service on Thursday January 6 citing government’s failure to implement the 2017-2020 conditions of service as basis for the strike.

Read Also: CETAG summoned to Labour Commission over strike

UTAG’s strike also commenced on Monday January 10.

“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. Following the uneasiness among UTAG members, any delay by the Employer would further exacerbate the already fragile academic calendar to the detriment of all stakeholders,” UTAG said in the statement that announced their strike.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu | [email protected]

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