The University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (UTAG) have rejected a $1600 research allowance proposed by the government.
According to the group, it is entitled to and shall only accept the cedi equivalent of $2,084 which represents the entry point salary value of lecturers in 2013.
This was contained in a statement issued in Accra after its emergency meeting held on Friday October 8, to discuss and vote on the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by the Negotiation Team of UTAG and representatives of the Government.
Read below the full statement.
Dear Sir,
RESOLUTIONS OF UG-UTAG FOLLOWING AN EMERGENCY MEETING TO DISCUSS THE MOA SIGNED BY THE UTAG NEGOTIATION TEAM AND GOVERNMENT ON 6TH OCTOBER, 2021
At its emergency meeting held on Friday October 8, 2021 to discuss and vote on the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by the Negotiation Team of UTAG and representatives of the Government in connection with the mandate granted to the former to negotiate for better Conditions of Service with the latter, which MOA was signed on October 6, 2021, UTAG-UG agreed as
follows. That,
1. It overwhelmingly rejects the said amount of USD 1600 payable by 2024, agreed in the MOA by the Negotiation Team (NT) and accepted by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of UTAG, as representing research allowance.
2. In place of the amount of USD 1600, which the NT negotiated and signed with government, UTAG-UG contends that it is entitled to and shall only accept the cedi equivalent of $2,084 which represents the entry point salary value of lecturers in 2013.
3. Having earlier sought permission from UTAG-National to be excused from the earlier agreed strike action which should have started on Friday, October 8, 2021, UTAG-UG affirms that it is committed to embarking on a strike action from January 2022 when the academic year is scheduled to begin, unless its demand as stated in clause 2 is met.
4. UTAG-UG awaits the outcome of the Labor Market Survey scheduled for December 2021 to resume negotiations with Government on the Market Premium and Basic Salary.
5. The NEC Negotiation Team must be reconstituted to draw on expertise of members selected across public universities,to ensure professional discussions during negotiations and quality outcomes beneficial to UTAG Members.
We respectfully urge you to take note of the resolutions and act on the concerns raised by our members.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Dr. Samuel Nkumbaan
President
Professor Ransford Edward Gyampo
Secretary
Cc: All NEC Members
Source: Kofi Yirenkyi