The Ministry of Education has threatened to drag the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) before the National Labour Commission(NLC) for failing to go through the laid down procedure to have their concerns addressed.<\/p>\n
UTAG declared an indefinite strike on Thursday over what\u00a0they say is government\u2019s delay to payment their book and research allowance.<\/p>\n
The Ministry, \u00a0however insists<\/span> negotiations were ongoing when the Association declared the strike.<\/p>\n According to the Ministry, UTAG failed to keep faith with the Ministry\u2019s processes, hence the decision to drag it before the NLC.<\/p>\n But speaking on Eyewitness News<\/b>, the President of UTAG, Dr. Ofori Bekoe<\/span> said the Association was unfazed by the Ministry\u2019s decision to drag UTAG to court, saying, \u201cwe are not afraid to go before the labour<\/span> commission.. \u201c<\/p>\n Mr. Bekoe<\/span> denied the Ministry\u2019s claims that UTAG failed to go through the laid processes in declaring the strike, adding that UTAG had \u201cfollowed due process\u201d<\/p>\n According to him, the Ministry has always \u201chad a problem with UTAG embarking on a strike\u201d even in instances when the Association had every right to do so.<\/p>\n He insisted UTAG officially informed the NLC before embarking on its strike. \u201cWe notified them that we were going on strike and they suggested we put our strike on hold. But we have discussed this issue without answers so we resolved to embark on a strike,\u201dhe said.<\/p>\n Commenting on the payment of their book and research allowance, he emphasized the need for the payment to be made since<\/span> teachers lack the required resources needed to conduct research.<\/p>\n Speaking on the same platform, the President of the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) emphasized the need for government to pay the book and research allowance since it<\/span> a \u201cworking tool for teachers\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Book and research allowance is a working tool for teachers and it has not been paid \u2026<\/span>those allowances should be paid,\u201d Mr. Dugra<\/span> insisted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By: Marian Efe Ansah\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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