TUTAG Suspends Nationwide Strike

The Association of the Technical University Teachers of Ghana (TUTAG), has called off their weeklong nationwide strike today, Saturday, June 19. 2021 in Tamale.

The decision was taken after the Association held a crunch meeting on Friday in Tamale, monitored by Soireenews.

In a Press release copied to this portal by the Association, the President of TUTAG Dr. Michael Brigandi said "Having received positive response from the general membership of the Union, based on the assurances of the duty bearers, Congress has decided that the ongoing strike has been suspended."

He said Government has been directed to resolve the Association issues within 60 days.

He, therefore, appreciated the efforts of the Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Honourable Bright Wireko-Brobbey and the Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission for their prompt interventions.

The Association before calling off the strike meet with the National Labour Commission (NLC) on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, over their TUTAG’s concerns.

Among their concerns for declaring the strike on Monday, June 14 includes Condition of Service, Tier-2 Pension Payment, Research Arrears, Accreditation of TU's Programs, and Scheme of Service.

Read the full Press Statement Below

TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION OF GHANA (TUTAG)

For Immediate Release, TUTAG SUSPENDS STRIKE

We wish to thank the Inedia of this country for the sound manner in which they amplified our concerns.

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. The diligent work as journalists resulted in the massive public sympathy that this strike enjoyed.

THE ISSUES

The main issues that sent TUTAG members packing bag and baggage from the lecture halls were;
1. Condition Of Service (COS)
2. Tier-2 Pension Payment
3. Research arrears
4. Accreditation of TU's Programs
5. Scheme Of Service (SOS)
TUTAG is happy to announce that the government has been directed to resolve all these issues within 60 days. (ie 2 months). 

The order was given after the National Labour Commission (NLC) observed that our strike was legal.

ENGAGEMENTS WITH GOVERNMENT
In the course of the strike, one striking observation was made b) TUTAG during its meeting with new Minister of Education (MOE) and that is sincerity.

After suffering from the results of non-committal promises from politicians and government agencies, resolved upon declaring the strike that it was taking every promise ol' government a pinch of salt. That is, it was never going to back down based on promises.

However, when TUI AG met the Education Minister, l)r. Yaw Osei Adutwum something phenomenal happened. We have met politicians who promised to take us to heaven alive, and we believed them and went back to sleep, only to wake up and find ourselves in the same pool of academic and financial injustices. But 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 nonverbal communication, we could see the natural sincerity that was oozing from both his verbal and nonverbal communication. 

Our encounter with Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum was the beginning of the shift of TUJ'l'ACi from mistrust to mutual trust, hence the decision to reconsider our position.

Though our strike has been declared legal and we could have decided to remain on strike till all our issues were resolved, we wish to inform the Education Minister that our decision to suspend the strike with immediate effect was based on our trust and confidence in his assurances. The word worthy of note is "suspend". We are only suspending the strike to give Dr. Yaw Osei the benefit of the doubt.

Besides the assurance of the Education Minister, we have also secured two important documents that would facilitate the resolution of our issues;

l. A letter from the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to begin negotiation on the 29fll June 2021. For this reason, we appreciate the efforts of the Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations Hon. Bright Wireko-Brobbey and the Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), Dr. Edward Kwapong so far.

2. A ruling from the National Labour Commission (NLC) that contains timelines within which the issues should be resolved.

Having received positive responses from the general membership of the Union, based on the assurances of the duty bearers, Congress has decided that the ongoing strike has been suspended.
TUTAG wishes to thank the Ghanaian media and the general public for sympathizing with us in the course of the strike.
Thank you.
 
Dr. Michael Brigandi
National President
0244740144

By Ibrahim Nurudeen