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The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has announced it is seeking redress in court over government’s refusal to pay their research and book allowance.
A statement signed by UTAG Secretary, Dr Samuel A. Atintono, indicated the association has withdrawn the case from the National Labour Commission (NLC) and the voluntary arbitration.
UTAG has given government a 30-day notice of its intention to go to court to seek three reliefs.
They are demanding that the government pays the 2013/2014 Book and Research Allowance since it had already accrued.
They also are seeking the court to prove that government cannot unilaterally vary the condition of service of UTAG by scrapping the Book and Research Allowance since they were negotiated for between both parties.
Lastly, they are seeking a perpetual injunction on government to put a stay on our variation of condition of service with respect to the Book and Research Allowance until a new condition of service is negotiated.
UTAG members have withdrawn their services for over four weeks, demanding payment of their research and book allowance.
Read the full statement below
Update on Strike and the Re-opening of public universities
UTAG had withdrawn the case from NLC and also from the voluntary arbitration in order to seek redress in the court.
UTAG has, therefore, served 30 days’ notice to Government that it intends to take the issue to Court to seek reliefs for three thingsthat:
1.Government should pay the 2013/2014 Book and Research Allowances since it had already accrued.
2. Government cannot unilaterally vary the condition of service of UTAG by scrapping the Book and Research Allowances since they were negotiated for between both parties.
3. UTAG is seeking a perpetual injunction on Government to put a stay on our variation of condition of service with respect to the Book and Research Allowances until a new condition of service is negotiated for.
UTAG is still on strike and our members should remain resolute until they hear an announcement from its leadership that the strike is called off. Media reports, comments, or Government announcements which are not authorised by UTAG do not represent UTAG’s position and should be ignored.
The Chairman of VCG, Prof William Elis (KNUST VC) recently held discussions with UTAG and had proposed an alternative approach to resolving the issue of which UTAG had welcomed the idea and we are in the waiting.
The re-opening of the public universities lies squarely in the hands of the management of the universities but not UTAG.
Government’s announcement that the universities should re-open on August 27, 2014 has nothing to do with UTAG’s issue.
Dr Samuel A. Atintono
(UTAG Secretary)