By William Yaw Owusu
Wednesday June 30, 2010
THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE Committee (NEC) of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) says it would not be ‘rushed’ into accepting any “last minute” decision regarding the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) which is due for implementation from July 1.
“UTAG would like to use this opportunity to urge the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to as a matter of urgency, invite UTAG to examine conclusions of the re-evaluation of job positions in public universities in connection with the implementation of the SSSS.”
At a news conference at the University of Ghana, Legon in Accra Friday, Dr. Samuel Kwesi Asiedu-Addo, National President of UTAG said “we need to resolve all outstanding issues before the implementation of the structure.”
He said “UTAG has submitted a proposal on the review of the Book and Research Allowances to government since 2009 but unfortunately no response have been received despite several reminders. UTAG is very uncomfortable with government's uninterrupted silence on this subject. Again, we would recommend that Government takes the obligatory steps for this issue to be resolved immediately.”
“In as much as UTAG lauds government for preparing the calendar for payment of all arrears due members, UTAG would like to implore government to adhere strictly to the schedule to evade any future misunderstanding.”
He said perennial problem of delays in the payment of book and research allowances is very disturbing to UTAG.
“The five-year roadmap ended successfully in 2008 with the agreement that the entry salary of the university lecturer be split into Basic Salary, Professional Allowance and Special Book Allowance. What this means is that part of the salary for university teachers of public universities and institutions of higher learning is hedged in the book allowance each year yet annually, UTAG spends enormous resources in time, money and energy to ensure the book and research allowances are paid.
“It would interest you to know that we are soon going to commence the 2010/2011 academic year, yet the Book and Research Allowances for the University Teacher for the 2009/2010 have still not been paid.”
“UTAG can no longer sustain the pressure and tension on our campuses. We therefore restate our standpoint in our earlier resolution to Government that if by Wednesday, July 7, 2010 the Book and Research Allowances for the 2009/2010 academic year is not paid, UTAG will unconditionally withdraw all its services effective Thursday, July 8, 2010.”
“We would also like to take this opportunity to remind government that for the past seven years when we embarked on the salary roadmap, UTAG and government have established an amiable relation that needs to be protected. We therefore, entreat it to respect UTAG’s resolution to avoid any damage that could be caused to the cordial relationship existing between UTAG and Government.”
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