The staff were fired via text messages and given three-days to vacate their positions
Some senior and junior staff of the Central University College who were affected by a recent general staff retrenchment by the school’s management have threatened to seek legal redress.
The staff who were fired via text messages and given three-days to vacate their positions were angered by the move, describing it as unfair and inhumane on the part of school authorities.
Lawyers for the aggrieved staff in a letter to the school indicated that their clients (dismissed staff) have not been “given reasons for the redundancy, neither have they been given the selection criteria for their inclusion in the separation process, an action that amounts to targeting them for the free expression of their opinions and unfair termination under the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651)”.
For them, the dismissal is a mere attempt by the school to impose their terms on their clients, which is practically a violation of the laws of Ghana.
“You are seeking to impose on our Clients 3 months basic salary in lieu of the 3 months’ notice of termination for senior members and as applicable to the other ranks and a one month basic salary for each year they have worked in Central University their separation package”.
They believe the university in their capacity as a Christian institution should have assessed the impact of their actions on the affected staff and followed the due process as far as the labour laws are concerned.
“As a reputable Christian University, you should have done much more to assess the impact of your action on my clients and to follow the dictates of the law in making allowances for arm’s length negotiation rather than imposing your will on them. Should this matter proceed to trial, it will become clear what formal steps, if any, Central University took to alleviate the concerns of your own staff and the impact that will have on admission in the coming year”, a section of the letter read.
They however indicated their readiness to negotiate properly with management, the issues as far as the dismissal is concerned and the packages their clients are entitled to.
“Our clients are willing to pursue an out-of-court settlement on terms that entitle them to the sum of 3 months gross salary payment in lieu of notice and 3 months gross salary for each year worked with the University. Our monthly earnings include basic salary, general professional allowance, transport and travel allowance, provident fund and social security. Senior members are also entitled to book and research allowance which you have not paid since the beginning of the academic year”.
More than 67 senior and junior staff of the Central University College were sacked via text message over what management claims is a general staff retrenchment, a move that angered the staff.
The affected staff from various departments at Mataheko and Miotso campuses of the University belonging to the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), were given one month salary prior to their dismissal.
