The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has declared that its members will not return to the lecture halls until the government meets their demands for improved working conditions.
Members of the union have been on strike for more than three weeks, claiming that the government has failed to deliver on agreed-upon working conditions.
The union was concerned that the adjusted ex-pump rate of GH10.99 would have an impact on Vehicle Maintenance and Off-Campus Allowances.
UTAG has also resolved to keep all essential services listed by the association’s various local unions and branches out of the scope of the strike.
“Government must be serious in its Base Pay negotiations with Organised Labour. Given the current inflation and economic miserisation of the ordinary Ghanaian worker, UTAG fully supports the proposal for Base Pay and relativity increase of 60 and 2 percent, respectively, and calls on all Labour Unions in Ghana to remain resolute in supporting leadership in the fight for a living wage and better Conditions of Service.”
“UTAG review of the 2023 Budget Statement points to a unilineal imposition of more austerity measures that are likely to negatively impact the already impoverished public sector worker. We support the several calls for downsizing of Government as a show of sacrifice in an attempt to restore economic stability.”
The resolutions were passed following a two-day meeting held between Monday, November 28, and Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Sunyani, Bono Region, according to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the association.
