The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) currently on strike have welcomed the National Labour Commisson's legal action against them, stressing the Association will not budge on their position.
Following the teacher's strike, there have been several pleas for them to return to the classrooms with people calling on the government to address their grievances but it appears the amicable solution everybody seeks is now going to turn into a legal tussle between UTAG and the government.
UTAG President, Professor Charles Marfo, in an interview on Peace FM's morning show ''Kokrokoo'', has indicated that the Labour Commission resort to court may have worsened the situation as it has now opened up for them to also toll the legal line.
On Friday, 6th August, the National Labour Commission secured an injunction in an Accra High Court compelling the lecturers to return to work while negotiations continued.
In response, the National Secretary, Dr K.K Abavare indicated that UTAG has received resolutions from all 13 member public institutions mandating them to continue the strike action.
“Following the stalling of negotiations with the government on our Conditions of Service (CoS), which culminated in our declaration of a nationwide withdrawal of teaching and related activities among member public universities, all local branch executives were tasked by the National Executive Committee (NEC) to convene an emergency meeting to solicit the views of members on the way forward.”
“On behalf of the NEC, National would like to forward to you resolutions received from the thirteen (13) member public universities,” portions of the statement released by the national body of the Association on August 8, 2021 read.
Touching on the injunction, the UTAG President told host Kwami Sefa Kayi that the Association and the stakeholders were almost reaching a consensus until the Commission brought in the injunction against their industrial action which has become a whole new ballgame.
He revealed that the Association has instructed its lawyers to counter the injunction.
''We were almost reaching a consensus until the government's court issue arose. Now, a whole new ballgame has started because we're also asking our lawyers to go to court . . . We were getting there. We were pushing; now this argument I'm making is lost," he stated.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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