Secretary of the University of Ghana chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UG UTAG), Prof. Ransford Gyampo, has stressed that until their conditions of service is improved, they will not hesitate to withdraw their services.

He says if salaries of university lecturers are not increased, the UG chapter of UTAG will embark on an indefinite strike from Monday, January 10, 2022.

Speaking on Prime Morning on Thursday, the academic recalled that the decision by UTAG’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to accept the proposed payment of $1,600 was opposed by some members of the Association; hence, a reason for their industrial action.

“It’s purely about the fact that our salaries are not stated anywhere, conditions of service are poor, negotiations have not yielded much, timelines and agreements reached have not been respected. People are frustrated and it’s gotten to that time where I don’t think any amount of persuasion or sugarcoated words would get people to rescind their decision,” he told Benjamin Akakpo.

Prof. Gyampo questioned the 7% salary increment for public sector workers, adding that if there is no equity in the salary structure for workers, there cannot be industrial harmony.

He called for a review of the constitution to ensure that Ghanaians enjoy better payment modules. The political science lecturer argued that it would be misplaced for anyone to say the 70% pay raise for Article 71 office holders is a constitutional matter.

“I think that we must generally as a nation be talking about equity in our pay structure. Without equity in our pay structure, we cannot have industrial harmony and without industrial harmony, governance cannot be carried out in the country.”

“You can’t give the owners of the money 7% and give caretakers 70% and when we talk about this, somebody says it’s a constitutional matter. Is the constitution a Bible? The constitution is not a Bible and as a thinking society, we’ve got the right to challenge constitutional content.”

“That is why the 1992 Constitution was subjected to a review; it is not a Bible. Politicians cannot hide behind that discriminatory provisions and ask us to tighten our belts whilst they would eat, their tummy will blossom and they will loosen their belts,” Prof. Gyampo retorted.

The national leadership of UTAG is expected to issue a statement on a possible strike action this week.

Earlier, some chapters wanted NEC to withdraw its communique which purported to suggest that an agreement has been reached by UTAG members to accept the research allowance and a proposal contained in the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the government and UTAG NEC.

Among other things, the proposal was meant to complete a Labour Market Survey Report to determine the review of the Interim Market Premium by December, 2021 for implementation in 2022.

Prof. Ransford Gyampo indicated that their fight for what is due them should not be misconstrued as plots against the government.

“Let this be known that this is not something against anybody, we are not anti-government, and we are not pro-opposition. What we ask for is for a better condition of service.”

“I think teachers have been calm, they’ve been patient, they’ve been quiet for far too long. If you push human being to a wall, he doesn’t go through the wall, he bounces back at you.”