The Senior Staff Association-Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG), the Federation of Senior Staff Association of Ghana (FUSSAG), and the Teachers and Educational Workers Union of Trade Union Congress (TEWU- TUC) have served notice to embark on industrial action.
The unions had previously given a notice on June 10, 2024, to the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission of Ghana, stating that they would be forced to take industrial action on June 21, 2024, if the Commission failed to rectify the injustice faced by their members regarding the Vehicle Maintenance Allowance (VMA) and other related allowances.
In response, the National Labour Commission summoned the parties for a hearing on June 19, 2024, and directed them to engage and report on June 26, 2024.
As a result, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission invited the concerned unions for discussions, leading to an agreement being reached and an addendum being signed.
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According to the unions, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission has done its part by writing to the Ministry of Finance for payment to be made.
They also disclosed that while universities funded by government subvention have received the new allowances, those on the Controller and Accountant General’s payroll have not.
“We have tried to engage the Ministry on several occasions to release a letter to that effect so our members could be paid but the Ministry has refused. Meanwhile those universities on government Subvention have been paid together with the arrears leaving those directly on the Controller and Account General’s Payroll”
In addition, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission has also ordered universities to withhold the new rate until the Ministry of Finance releases the authorization letter, further complicating the situation.
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The unions in a statement issued on August 5, 2024, accused the government of using “Machiavellian tactics” to deny them their agreement.
In response, they have given the government until the close of work on Thursday, August 8, to release the letter.
If the government fails to do so, the unions have declared that they will be forced to take industrial action starting on August 9, 2024.
“Failure to do so will result in the Unions being forced to take industrial action on the 9th of August, 2024”
