University senior staff declare nationwide strike

Senior staff of the country’s public universities have declared a strike today.

At a news conference at the main entrance of the University of Ghana, members of the Senior Staff Association of the Universities of Ghana were asked by their leadership to “go home.”

The association joins a tall list of public sector labour unions demanding Cost of Living Allowance (COLA), calculated as 20% of basic salary.

They are also unhappy that accrued interests on Tier 2 pension arrears have not been settled.

Additionally, the members are also worried about what they describe as salary disparities at the universities.

At the news conference today, General Secretary of the association, Hector Owoahene-Acheampong, said senior staff in the public universities were unfairly treated and the time is now to have their demands met.

The Teachers and Education Workers Union (TEWU), the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT) have laid down their tools, over the failure of government to pay them 20% of their basic salaries as Cost of Living Allowance (COLA).

Regarding this development, representatives of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and the National Graduate Association of Teachers (NAGRAT) walked out of the negotiation with the government over their demand for COLA.

The two associations have accused government of betrayal of trust for asking them to call off their strike before negotiations.