NLC orders striking TUTAG members back to classrooms

The National Labour Commission has on Friday ordered striking members of the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG) end their action and resume full academic activities.

It has also directed government to pay members of TUTAG all arrears by January 29 without delays.

The decision of the labour adjudicator was announced in a meeting with TUTAG members, the Minister for Education Mathew Opoku Prempeh and other stakeholders.

But some executives of TUTAG who attended the meeting in Accra told journalists that although they have taken the decision of the NLC in good faith, they cannot give a definite date on when to call off the strike.

“Ruling was made, and that we should go back to the classroom, and that they have given government dates to make payment,” Greater Accra Chairman TUTAG, Dr Ibrahim Zubaira stated.

“We have taken the ruling and we are going to go back to abide by it. I have to go and organise my people and we will communicate to the general public,” he added

Dr Zubaira said the members will be looking forward to government to settle all arrears without any further delays.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Education Minister, Dr Opoku-Prempeh assured government the teachers government was doing all it can to ensure that they return to the classrooms peacefully.

“I feel down-hearted for students who have studied all this while, waiting to write their examinations, having a strike that has affected their exams. We hope that we can quickly resolve the matter for the students to write their exams and for peace and tranquility will prevail on the campuses.”

On the issue of the migration of the teachers onto the Single Spine Salary Structure, the Minister said those qualified will be migrated.

“They are going to be migrated to a level,” he stated.

Members of TUTAG have since January 6 been striking in demand for payment of allowances owed them as well their full migration onto the Single Spine Salary Structure just like their colleagues in public universities.