Executive Secretary of the National Labour Commission (NLC), Ofosu Asamoah, has strongly criticised the labour unions in the education sector currently on strike, calling their actions ‘unjustified’ and ‘unnecessary.’
The Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana, the Federation of Universities Senior Staff (FUSSAG), the Teachers and Educational Workers Union of Ghana (TEWU), and the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) are already on strike due to the government’s failure to address their pressing concerns.
Some of the unions complained about the employer’s lack of attention to their welfare needs, such as tier-two pension funds, vehicle maintenance allowance, and overtime allowance, among other issues.
During an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM with Umaru Sanda Amadu, Mr. Ofosu criticised the unions for their quick decisions despite ongoing negotiations with the Commission.
“There was an agreement between the parties involved. You leave the commission and go and declare a strike, and all others have also joined. You have put something across, and you have agreed. Why go on strike when your issues have been resolved? Why do you want to be on strike when those issues that have not been resolved are being resolved by your good self?”
“It’s quite an unfortunate situation. It’s like, at the moment, the strike is becoming a tool that is being misused. I failed to find the legs on which they were standing to declare the strike and close all universities. As if they just want to close it for fun. Their strike is unmeritorious; it’s needless,” he pointed out.
He went on to characterise the actions of the labour unions as ‘incorrect’ and unlawful.
“As the Executive Secretary of the NLC, with my experience, knowledge, and everything of the law, I think this is an unlawful [strike],” Mr. Asamoah insisted.