UTAG threatens strike over book and research allowance

sQuashie

October 21, 2015 7:01 AM

The Association say there is no sign from government that their allowances will be paid despite calling suspending their strike in August based on promises from government.

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has given government up to Friday, October 23, to release their book and research allowance.

The President of UTAG, Dr. Samuel Ofori Bekoe in an interview on Unique FM said the deadline for payment of the allowances elapsed on September 30, 2015 therefore; there is the need for them to mount pressure on government to release the money.

“In August, we said we were not completely calling off the strike but we are suspending it and then we gave the government up to the 30th of September to fulfil its promise of paying the book and research allowance. September 30 has elapsed and October is also coming to a close but we have still not been paid. If by this Friday we are not paid, then we are going to advice ourselves,” he explained.

Dr. Ofori Bekoe indicated that since they suspended their strike two months ago, they have not had any meetings with government to iron out the issues.

He was however quick to add that the leadership of UTAG “has been following the processes to ensure that the book and research allowances are paid.”

The UTAG president accused government of employing delay tactics to frustrate members.

According to him, strange processes have been added to the procedure in which the money goes through before final payment is made.

“We believe that it’s just a way of buying time in processing the money because if they were bent on paying us, they would have done so by last week but the way things are going now, there is no sign that they are going to pay,” he added.

Dr. Ofori Bekoe stressed that UTAG members are determined to get the allowances paid and they are ready to use every means to get what is due them.

sQuashie

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