We've Not Received Any Court Order To Call Off Strike - TUTAG President
President of TUTAG, Dr Solomon Keelson says they have not received any court order compelling them to call off their strike action and return to the classroom.
He explains calling off their strike would be extremely difficult.
Speaking on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, he added that they are going to meet as an Association on Thursday to decide on what to do next.
TUTAG has declared an indefinite strike action to protest the non-payment of some allowances. According to the Association, the government has “refused to fully comply” with the ruling by the National Labour Commission (NLC) that members of the association start receiving allowances due them.
Their strike led to a similar action by members of the Technical University Senior Administrators Association of Ghana (TUSAAG) on Wednesday, January 8.
Due to the effect of these strike actions on teaching and learning, the Students' Representative Council of the Accra Technical University (ATU) with support from the Ghana National Union of Technical Students (GNUTS) has threatened to embark on a mammoth demonstration should government fail to address the issues raised by TUTAG within the shortest possible time.
However, Deputy Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Bright Wireko Brobbey has disclosed that the government has agreed to settle arrears of the striking TUTAG.
However, they are supposed to return to the classroom per the court order, he added.
Speaking also on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, he explained that they will, however, be charged with contempt of court if they refuse to return to the classroom.
He, however, pleaded with them to return to the classroom whilst negotiations continue.
Court Order
The High Court, Labour Division, has ordered the Technical University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (TUTAG) and the Technical University Senior Administrators Association (TUSAAG) to call off their strike, effective Tuesday, January 14, 2020.
The order shall remain for a period of 10 days.
This follows a motion Ex-parte filed by the National Labour Commission (NLC) on January 14, 2020 for an Order for Interlocutory Injunction to get the striking members of the two unions to call off their strike and return to work.
The Court, presided over by Mrs Doreen G. Boakye-Agyei, ruled that the unions, whether by themselves, their executives, officers, members, agents, employees and other persons were to comply with the directives of the NLC dated Friday, January 10, 2020.
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