Continue to be on strike until further notice – Senior Staff of Public Universities told

The strike declared by the Senior Staff Association of Public Universities of Ghana will remain in force pending a determination to be made by its National Executive Council (NEC), the group has said.

Members of the association are on the industrial action to demand, among other things, the payment of their Tier 2 pension arrears, as well as the finalisation of negotiations of their conditions of service.

The government, together with the leadership of the Association, on Wednesday, agreed that interest on the tier-two pension will be negotiated for payment.

The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) also assured that it will conclude negotiations with the union regarding the conditions of service.

These new arrangements were part of an agreement between the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, the Ministry of Education, FWSC, as well as the Senior Staff Association of the Universities of Ghana after the emergency meeting.

But the National Chairman of the Senior Staff Association, Zakaria Mohammed, has asked members to continue with the strike until they have communication from the NEC on the next line of action.

“We were satisfied with the points that were made. But we indicated that the decision to call off the strike and embark on the strike is the business of the NEC of our Association. So we are to convey to NEC, the discussion between us and the government for us to make an informed decision. But as for when the strike will be called off, I am unable to tell. So we are telling our members to continue the strike until a decision is made by the NEC.”

The stakeholders at the meeting made four other resolutions.

The resolutions at the meeting were:

• Interest on the tier-two pension will be negotiated and computed for payment
• Fair Wages and Salaries Commission makes a firm commitment to conclude negotiations with the Union on their Conditions of Service
• The request for non-basic allowances to be discussed further and agreed upon
• SSA-UoG to consult the National Executive Council (NEC) on the matter of calling off the strike
• Parties to resolve all matters within 60 days