Members of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) in eight universities are expected to vote by close of day today, to determine whether the suspension of a strike by the association’s National executive committee (NEC) will stand or not.
The NEC last week suspended the strike after 6 weeks of protest demanding better conditions of service.
So far, five universities have voted against the decision whiles two have voted in favour of the decision.
National President of UTAG, Prof. Solomon Nunoo in a Citi News interview said “8 more universities are yet to vote on the suspension of the strike. They should be done by close of Monday. It is supposed to be held within five working days after the suspension of the strike. We have 15 campuses and so we expect 8 campuses to vote in favour of the NEC decision for it to stand.’
“If it turns out the other way round however, we will convey an extraordinary NEC meeting to decide on a date to resume the industrial action.”
He noted that the strike was suspended to allow for negotiation “processes to begin, so currently we are negotiating. But we will go ahead and carry out whatever the members of UTAG decide. Even if it means the resumption of the strike.”
Meanwhile, the National Executive Committee of UTAG has appealed to all UTAG members to return to the lecture halls as they push for improved conditions of service.
UTAG has been on strike since January 10 to force the government to restore the conditions of service agreed upon in 2012.
The 2012 conditions of service pegged the Basic plus Market Premium of a lecturer at $2,084.42.
UTAG has complained that the current arrangement has reduced its members’ basic premiums to $997.84.
