TUTAG suspends strike
The Technical University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (TUTAG) has lauded the media for articulating their concern to the government to respond in a favourable manner.
According to the Association, the diligent work of journalists resulted in the massive sympathy that its strike enjoyed.
TUTAG on Saturday, June 19, announced that it has suspended its strike over a number of issues that it said had not been resolved by the government over time.
The concerns that resulted in the strike included conditions of service, tier-two pension payment, research arrears, accreditation of TU’s programmes, and schemes of service.
Lauding the media, TUTAG said, “If the media were not to exhibit absolute impartiality and objectivity in their reportage, the government could have branded TUTAG as a bunch of lazy and unpatriotic citizens who just feel like sitting at home and taking salaries.”
It noted in a statement announcing the termination of the strike that, the government has been directed to resolve all their issues within 60 days.
The directive was given after the National Labour Commission (NLC) observed that the strike by the Association was legal.
During the strike, TUTAG engaged the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Adutwum and has indicated that the Minister has demonstrated sincerity in seeing to their concerns been resolved.
The Association noted that the meeting with the Minister was not characterised by the usual political promises, which left them with no hope to “wake up and find ourselves in the same pool of academic and financial injustices.”
“After listening to the Education Minister, we observed that there are still individuals in political positions that citizens can trust. From our observations of his verbal and non-verbal communication, we could see the natural sincerity that was oozing from both his verbal and non-verbal communication.
Our encounter with Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum was the beginning of the shift of TUTAG from mistrust to mutual trust, hence the decision to reconsider our position,” TUTAG said.
REAL ALSO: Vincent Ekow Assafuah Writes: TUTAG’s Strike; Genuine Concerns Or Misguided Action?
Meanwhile, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has also pledged commitment, while the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations has also taken steps to resolve the grievances.
To this end, TUTAG, has paid tribute to a Deputy Employment and Labour Relations Minister, Bright Wereko-Brobbey, and the Chief Executive Officer of FWSC, Dr Edward Kwapong.
“Having received positive responses from the general membership of the Union, based on assurances of the duty bearers, Congress has decided that the ongoing strike has been suspended,” the Association stated.