After calling off its most recent strike, the KNUST-chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana has urged the government to be more sincere in dealings with the union to avert future strikes.
“Government should be truthful and abide by the deadlines they themselves set,” the KNUST-chapter President of the Senior Staff Association, George Ansong, said to Citi News.
“If they do that, there will be peace. They will have their peace, and we will also have our peace,” he added.
The union’s members nationwide went on strike on August 2 in protest of the government’s failure to address concerns raised over their conditions of service.
Members of the association are also asking for the award of market premium and non-basic allowance, as well as the finalisation of negotiations of their conditions of service.
While suspending the strike, the union said its decision followed a National Labour Commission’s ruling on August 6, 2021, and various interventions made by the ministers of Education, Employment and Labour Relations, and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission on behalf of the government.
A road map is currently in place to serve as a guide to ensure a resolution to the union’s grievances.
Going by previous timelines, the association was hoping to have concluded negotiations on conditions of service by July 19, 2021.
Mr. Ansong assured the association’s members that their leaders will continue to fight for their interests.
“I am just encouraging our members that as difficult as it is, let’s have trust in our leaders and support them. Very soon, what we have been fighting for will yield fruits that we are all expecting.”
In the meantime, Mr. Ansong expects lecturers to resume work on the KNUST campus on Wednesday.