Story: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Senior staff of two of the country’s public universities, the University of Cape Coast (UCC), and the University of Development Studies (UDS), have threatened to embark on a strike to demand payment of certain allowances due to them and the delay in promoting their colleagues.
The UDS Branch of the Senior Staff Association of Universities is said to begin its strike today, Thursday, May 12, 2022, while its counterpart UCC has slated its action for Thursday, May 19, 2022.
The two branches of the Senior Staff Association of Universities are bent on embarking on their intended industrial action. despite a recent meeting with the management of the institution.
According to reports, during the said meeting, UDS management agreed to implement recommendations of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) that addresses qualification requirements for progression, a reason that necessitated the industrial action.
However, the Senior Staff Association of UDS is claiming that a communiqué sighted by their office contradicts the assurances given them by management; hence their decision to lay down their tools.
The President of the UDS Branch, Mr. Zakaria Mohammed, elaborating on the issues explained that “a number of concessions were made, and we told them that this should be put on paper to avert the possibility of our strike.
According to him, both sides agreed in principle but while they (the leadership of the association) were meeting with their members, a letter popped up that was entirely contrary to the agreement they had with management.
In another development, UCC members of the Association have also served notice that they will lay down their tools over similar issues.
The UCC Branch Chairman of the association, Sandy Kumi-Sinatra, says “The refusal of management to acknowledge and issue directives with effects to what GTEC has prescribed for the universities in relation to the qualification of senior membership in the various universities has necessitated this action,”.
Some of the Unions have been agitating over the qualification requirements for progression and upgrading to Senior Member Grade.
Management of public universities has been demanding a Master of Philosophy or its equivalent before one is appointed to senior membership status.