Return to class while we negotiate towards March 4 deadline – UTAG urges lecturers



The University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (UTAG) has urged members nationwide to honor its decision to return to the classroom on Monday, February 28, 2022.

The Association had already communicated its readiness to temporarily comply with the court order to resume work after an injunction was granted the National Labour Commission (NLC).

The suspension will last until March 4.

However, a referendum conducted by the UTAG’s National Executive Council show an overwhelming rejection from public universities of the decision to pick up their tools.

As the results of the ongoing referendum trickle in, the lecturers are expected to consider the outcome within five days according to UTAG regulations.

Return to class while we negotiate towards March 4 deadline - UTAG urges lecturers

“we wish to urge all UTAG members to kindly return to the lecture rooms to teach as per the circulars released by the Management Team of the various Public Universities till the NEC of UTAG states otherwise,” the association said in a statement on February 26.

It was signed by UTAG’s National President, Prof Solomon Nunoo and National Secretary, Dr Asare Asante-Annor.

Coincidentally, the said period falls with the five days after which the constitutions renders injunctions duly elapsed.

This provides the association ample time to take a decision as to whether to resume the industrial action or not depending on the outcome of negotiations with government and stakeholders.

“This positions UTAG to comply with current injunctive order from the Honourable High Court whilst being able to find space to negotiate with the Employer during the period of the temporal suspension of the strike.”

The communiqué further hinted that the legal processes are far advanced towards triggering a fresh set of industrial actions if the road map set out between the two parties is not honoured by the government.

“To this end, we have instructed our legal team to undertake the due and required processes for the resumption of the strike action within the ambits of the law and within the stipulated time for completion of negotiations.”

UTAG referendum of strike

Majority of lecturers across some seven public universities in the country have voted against the decision by UTAG’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to suspend its nationwide strike.

The dissenting lecturers include lectures from the University of Education, Winneba (UEW); the University of Ghana, Legon; the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR); the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST); the University for Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) and the SD-Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies.

According to the votes collated from these 7 public universities, an overwhelming majority of the lecturers do not want UTAG to suspend its nationwide strike.

The University of Cape Coast and other member institutions are yet to cast their votes on NEC’s decision.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

School placements released for 2021 BECE candidates

Image
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced the release of senior high school placements for candidates who sat the 2021 Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE). According to the GES, the  Computerised School   Selection and Placement System  (CSSPS) Secretariat has made the choices of schools available through bulk SMS as well as online for verification. “Parents, candidates and teachers are to be informed that a bulk SMS of the schools selected will be sent to the contact numbers provided by candidates during the school selection,” a press release issued on Tuesday, February 15 by Head of the Public Relations Unit of GES said. Candidates have, therefore, been directed to check and immediately notify their school heads of any error “for corrections to be made”. This  is supposed to be done from Wednesday, February 16 to Tuesday, February 22nd. “Candidates should note that this is not a new process of school selection and therefore schools cannot be changed except there is
Read more

I'll Be Very Careful Supporting #Fix The Country Openly _ Manasah Azure

Image
  Manasah Azure Anti-graft campaigner, Manasseh Azure, has indicated his hesitation to openly support the #FixTheCountry Movement following the arrest of one of their conveners. Oliver Barker-Vormawor, a convener of the movement has been arrested and is facing charges of treason following an alleged ‘coup-inciting’ comment he made on social media. His comment was in reaction to footage of an e-levy designed cake which was cut during the 65th birthday celebration of the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu. According to Manasseh, Barker-Vormwaor’s statement is “very reprehensible and I think it is extremely unfortunate.” “And what he has done beyond the legality and everything else is really hurting the movement he’s leading because from now onwards I will be very careful in pushing for, or supporting FixTheCountry Movement openly which I’ve always done because I don’t know the intention of those people leading it – some people like him. And so I think it is very unfortunate,” he sai
Read more

COURT'S ORDER FOR UTAG TO CALL OFF THE STRIKE PROGRESSIVELY

Image
The Ministry of Education believes that the court order for striking public university lecturers to return to the classroom is progressive and affords government the opportunity to properly engage the lecturers on their demands. According to the ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Kwesi Kwarteng, the ministry is hoping that a lasting solution will be found and lecturers permanently returning to the lecture rooms. Speaking on Eyewitness News, he said the ruling of the court is in the right direction, as Ghana’s labour laws are explicitly against an aggrieved party being on strike while negotiations are ongoing. “For us, we find it a bit progressive the decision by the court that granted the injunction relief which was being sought by the National Labour Commission because, in the end, parties would have to get back to negotiations and the laws of our land is very clear. It is clear that you are unable to negotiate when you are on strike,” He said he is hopeful that the UTAG members wil
Read more