Striking teachers and senior administrators of Technical Universities across the country have with immediate effect, suspended their action.
The latest decision announced in separate statements issued Wednesday was triggered by a court order secured by the National Labour Commission (NLC) which compelled the striking members to resume their duties.
The Technical University Teachers’ Association (TUTAG) and the Technical University Senior Administrators Association of Ghana (TUSAAG) withdrew their services on January 6 and 8 respectively, to push government to fully migrate their members onto the Public Universities Salaries Structure and also pay all allowances due them.
Earlier on January 10, the two groups rejected orders by the NLC to call off the strike which has affected academic activities in the technical universities, forcing the Commission to seek a court order on Wednesday, January 15.
“We are suspending the strike action immediately to show our respect to rule of law and to institutions of state who enforce law and order,” a statement signed by Dr Solomon A. Keelson, President of TUTAG explained.
TUSAAG on the other hand asked its members, to on the back of the interlocutory injunction, “resume their normal duties” while the National Executives ensure the implementation the rulings by the NLC.
Despite their decision to suspend the strike, the two unions say they will push to ensure that government complies with the two rulings of the NLC on October 28, 2019 and January 8, 2019
The NLC on January 8 ordered government to pay salaries and allowances of staff of the six technical universities whose data have been cleared by National Council for Tertiary Education, by January 29.
It also directed those at the Sunyani and Tamale technical universities who are yet to submit their data to do so latest by January 17 to enable government pay their salaries and allowances at the end of February.
Good faith
The Commission asked that the parties continue negotiations on outstanding issues in good faith.
TUTAG said in Wednesday’s statement that the decision to suspend its strike is to demonstrate good faith, which it said, “must be reciprocated by all stakeholders”, particularly the government.
“TUTAG is disappointed in how NLC refused to go to court to enforce their 28th October 2019 ruling against government but found it expedient to go to court for enforcement against TUTAG on its 8th January 2020 ruling,” it said.
TUSAAG on its part said it will demand that the NLC “ensure that Government complies with its rulings on the matter to forestall any future unrest”
By 3news.com|Ghana