The National Labour Commission (NLC) has directed the Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) of the Trades Union Congress, the Senior Staff Association of Public Universities, and the Federation of Universities Senior Staff to call off their strike.
The unions declared a strike in response to the government’s neglect of issues about pensions and the alleged unjust termination of their overtime allowances.
Ofosu Asamoah, the Executive Secretary of the NLC, told journalists after a meeting with the unions in Accra on Wednesday that it was only proper for the unions to call off the strike and negotiate with the government for their concerns to be addressed.
He said these unions could not negotiate by law if they were still on strike.
Mr. Asamoah also noted that the government was ready to negotiate with the unions, adding that he believed the unions would heed the directive.
“By law, if you are still on the strike, you can’t negotiate. The law frowns on it. You can’t even wear red bands. It is intimidating. You brought up three issues, and two have been solved. The first one, your allowances have been resolved, the UMAT and the UCC have been solved. The third one, which is in issue, the party against whom you are says I am guilty; however, let’s sit down and know how to correct it,” Mr. Asamoah stated.
Mark Korankye, the General Secretary of the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) of the TUC, said that the unions would consult their members before reaching a final decision.
“NLC has given directives that the Ministry of Finance should meet with us to discuss and resolve the matter by the 1st of February. There are also issues that GTEC has to also resolve as far as overtime and other issues are also concerned. So they have also been directed to, as a matter of urgency, get this matter resolved. To the unions, the Commission says call off your strike.”
“Before we can make any pronouncement on that, since we are only representatives here, we have to go and confirm with our rank and file and other leaders who are not here. So we are going to call a meeting of our members probably tomorrow or Friday, and then we will discuss what transpired here,” he added.
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Meanwhile, the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has expressed deep concern over the ongoing strike in public universities led by the Senior Staff Association and the Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) of the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
In a statement issued on Wednesday, it implored the government of Ghana to prioritize the concerns raised by the unions and work towards a speedy resolution.
“Understanding the importance of dialogue, NUGS calls upon both the government and the unions to engage in immediate and constructive negotiations. While we respect the right of unions to advocate for their members, we emphasize the significant impact this strike has on the academic well-being of students across the country,” it added.
NUGS appealed to the unions to consider returning to their duties while negotiations continue.
“This temporary return to work would alleviate the burden on students and ensure that the dialogue process takes place without further hindrance,” it added.
NUGS also advocated for comprehensive stakeholder consultation involving government representatives, university management, and the concerned unions.
“A collaborative approach is vital in understanding the complexities of the issues and arriving at sustainable solutions that address the legitimate concerns of all parties involved,” it added.
NUGS said that it was committed to championing the rights and interests of students.
“We believe that through earnest dialogue and a commitment to finding common ground, a resolution that serves the best interests of both the unions and the students can be achieved,” it added.
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