TUTAG calls off strike

• Posted on October 29, 2019October 29, 2019
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The Technical University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (TUTAG) has called off its strike after weeks of laying down tools to press home demands for improved condition of service.

The decision to call off the strike follows a meeting convened by the National Labour Commission which was attended by the leadership of TUTAG, the Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education, Professor Kwesi Yankah, Deputy Employment and Labour National Relations Minister, Dr. Charles Wireko Brobbey and other  stakeholders.

On October 7, 2019, TUTAG declared an indefinite strike with a call on authorities to implement conditions enjoyed by public university lecturers at the technical universities as well.

The technical university teachers wanted security, rent, car and other allowances enjoyed by the university teachers, else they will not return to work.

It is against this background that the Labour Commission called a meeting between the striking teachers and their employers.

At the meeting which took place on Monday, October 28, the Commission together with all the key stakeholders agreed to pay the allowances by end of December, 2019.

The teachers are to be paid electricity, rent, security, car maintenance, off-campus, entertainment and fuel allowance.

It was also agreed that some arrears owed since August this year will be settled in January and February 2020.

Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting between the parties, Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education, Professor Kwesi Yankah said government is committed to paying the teachers what they deserve and will go by what was agreed at the meeting.

“We have come very far in agreeing to certain fundamental issues including allowances that were not originally being paid to TUTAG members, but that has been brought on board.”

President of TUTAG Dr. Solomon Kilson confirmed the calling off of the strike.

“We will suspend the strike, we will go back to the classroom after consulting our constituency, what is due us is what has been pronounced. What we demanded is what the ruling also talks about.”

Deputy Employment and Labour Minister Dr. Wireko Brobeey said government will fulfill its side of the bargain by settling the teachers by the agreed date.

“Government is going to ensure that the payments are done, and so we gave ourselves up to December…we respect the ruling…”

The teachers are expected to resume work tomorrow, October 29.

-3news