You Have Not Been Reasonable – UTAG Jabs NLC As Strike Continues

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has descended heavily on the National Labour Commission (NLC) over the latter’s recent ruling, instructing the lecturers to return to work.

According to UTAG, NLC should have rather preferred charges against the employer for the “blatant unilateral variation” of the conditions of service agreed to on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 as regards the Vehicle Maintenance and Off-Campus Allowances.

On Friday, October 21, the Commission instructed UTAG to call off the strike immediately and engage in good faith.

But in a statement issued on Tuesday, October 25 to announce the continuation of the strike, UTAG took on NLC for not being “reasonable” with its rulings.

“From the totality of the facts and evidence before it, the NLC should have no difficulty in making a definite order against the Employer to pay amounts on figures agreed and established by convention,” the statement said.

UTAG said its lawyers have also raised concerns “about the rulings of the NLC and have forwarded same to the Commission”.

“They have advised that the steps being taken in respect of the rulings of the NLC are without prejudice to the rights our Association have in law.”

Meanwhile, UTAG has asked universities writing end-of-semester examinations to continue and directed branch executives to hold meetings with leaders of other labour unions on campuses ” to determine Essential Services that can run during the ongoing strike action”.

UTAG has threatened that if the government does not restore its members to the agreed conditions of service, the strike will be scaled up.