By: Nana Antwi Boasiako
The Senior Staff Association-Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG), the Federation of Senior Staff Associations of Ghana (FUSSAG), and the Teachers and Educational Workers Union of the Trade Union Congress (TEWU-TUC) have jointly threatened to embark on a strike on August 9, 2024, if their demands are not met. The unions are calling on the Ministry of Finance to authorize the payment of agreed-upon allowances by August 8, 2024. Failure to do so will prompt the unions to take industrial action, affecting various sectors including education and public services.
The three unions have expressed outrage over the Finance Ministry’s inaction regarding the Vehicle Maintenance Allowance (VMA) and other related allowances. In a statement released on August 5, the unions demanded that the government issue the necessary letter to facilitate payment by August 8. If this deadline is not met, the unions will be compelled to take industrial action on August 9, 2024. The unions reaffirmed their commitment to advocating for their members’ rights and vowed to pursue justice relentlessly.
The unions expressed dismay that universities receiving government subventions have been paid their allowances, including arrears, while institutions under the direct payroll of the Controller and Accountant General have been excluded. They alleged that the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has obstructed the payment of the new allowance rate by universities, further exacerbating the issue.