Gyampo to NLC: Suing UTAG a useless decision
Prof Ransford Gyampo, the general secretary of the University of Ghana branch of UTAG has said the decision to take the striking lecturers of the University Teachers Association of Ghana to court was a useless one.
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has been on strike since 10 January to demand better conditions of service.
According to the association, the government has breached the timelines agreed for resolution, hence their industrial action.
However, the National Labour Commission has sued the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) over its nationwide strike.
The NLC is praying the court to secure an interlocutory injunction to compel the lecturers to return to work.
It said the suit is to also force UTAG to call off its strike in compliance with its 13 January directive.
In an interview with Beatrice Adu on the Big Bulletin on Tuesday (February 1), Gyampo noted that “if a labour union is on strike [UTAG], and you want to compel them using technicalities and legal process, will all of a sudden the reasons why they went on strike be wiped away when you push them to the classroom?
“There’s a reason why people are on strike. They’re fighting for better conditions of service, if you force them back to the classroom will the conditions of service be improved?”
“… Simply because they’re unhappy and they’re on strike so well, let’s use the court to force them to the classroom. Will forcing them back to the classroom necessarily improve their conditions of service? You see, I’m trying to ask you to challenge the thoughts and the thinking behind whoever took that useless decision to take labour to court,” he said.
“Our strike is legal”
The members of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has said their strike is legal despite a ruling by the National Labour Commission (NLC) that it is illegal.
The NLC gave its ruling after a meeting with representatives of UTAG, the ministry of employment and the ministry of finance on Thursday (13 January).
However, a Facebook post by the general secretary of the University of Ghana branch of UTAG, Prof Ransford Gyampo indicated that UTAG is prepared to meet the commission in court if it comes to that.
“Simple report of our meeting with the National Labor Commission: They say our strike is illegal. We say it is legal. They say we should call it off. We say we won’t. What next? Court or sacking us? They should bring it on.”
Return to work
Ofosu Asamoah, the executive secretary of the National Labour Commission (NLC), has urged university authorities to compel lecturers to resume lectures.
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has been on strike since 10 January to demand better conditions of service.
Speaking with Kweku Nhyira-Addo on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday (18 January) Ofosu Asamoah urged managers of the various university campuses to take responsibility and ensure their teachers return to work.
