The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has announced it is seeking redress in court over government\u2019s refusal to pay their research and book allowance.<\/p>\n
A statement signed by UTAG Secretary, Dr Samuel A. Atintono, indicated the association has withdrawn the case from the National Labour Commission (NLC) and the voluntary arbitration.<\/p>\n
UTAG has given government a 30-day notice of its intention to go to court to seek three reliefs.<\/p>\n
They are also demanding that the government should pay\u00a0the 2013\/2014\u00a0Book and Research Allowances since it had already accrued.<\/p>\n
They also are also seeking the court to prove that government cannot unilaterally vary the condition of service of UTAG by scrapping the Book and Research Allowances since they were negotiated for between both parties.<\/p>\n
Lastly, they are seeking a perpetual injunction on government to put a stay on their variation of condition of service with respect to the Book and Research Allowances until a new condition of service is negotiated for.<\/p>\n
UTAG members have withdrawn their service for over four weeks in demand for the payment of their research and book allowance.<\/p>\n
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Read the full statement below<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Update on\u00a0Strike and\u00a0the\u00a0Re-opening\u00a0of public universities<\/strong><\/p>\n UTAG had\u00a0withdrawn\u00a0the case from NLC and also from the\u00a0voluntary arbitration\u00a0in order to seek redress in the court.<\/p>\n UTAG\u00a0has, therefore,\u00a0served 30 days\u2019 notice to Government that it intends to take the issue to Court to seek reliefs for three things that:<\/p>\n 1.Government should pay\u00a0the 2013\/2014\u00a0Book and Research Allowances since it had already accrued.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0Government cannot unilaterally vary the condition of service of UTAG by scrapping the Book and Research Allowances since they were negotiated for between both parties.<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0UTAG is seeking a perpetual injunction on Government to put a stay on our variation of condition of service with respect to the Book and Research Allowances until a new condition of service is negotiated for.<\/p>\n UTAG is still on strike and our members should remain resolute until they hear an announcement from its leadership that the strike is called off. Media reports, comments, or Government announcements which are not authorised by UTAG do not represent UTAG\u2019s position\u00a0and should be ignored.<\/p>\n The Chairman of VCG, Prof William Elis (KNUST VC)\u00a0recently\u00a0held\u00a0discussions with UTAG and\u00a0had proposed\u00a0an alternative approach to resolving the issue of which UTAG had welcomed\u00a0the idea\u00a0and we are\u00a0in the\u00a0waiting.<\/p>\n The re-opening of the\u00a0public\u00a0universities lies squarely in the hands of the management of the\u00a0universities but not UTAG.<\/p>\n Government\u2019s announcement that the universities\u00a0should re-open on\u00a0August 27, 2014 has nothing to do with UTAG\u2019s issue.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dr Samuel A. Atintono<\/strong><\/p>\n (UTAG Secretary)<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n By: Efua Idan Osam\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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