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The Senior Staff Association–Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG), the Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU-TUC), and the Federation of University Senior Staff Associations of Ghana (FUSSAG) have initiated an indefinite strike effective immediately, citing unjust alterations to their working conditions and the government’s inability to fulfill pending financial commitments.
The strike aims to urge the government to settle four years of unpaid salaries and allowances resulting from the transition of the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI), the Ghana Institute of Languages (GIL), and the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) into the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC).
The unions are also insisting on the payment of five months of unpaid Tier Two pension contributions from August to December 2024, plus a three percent penalty for late submissions, in line with National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) rules.
In a collective message endorsed by George Ansong, the National Chairman of SSA-UoG; Jonathan Kabu, the General Secretary of FUSSAG; and Salamatu Mahamah Brimah, the National Chairperson of TEWU-TUC, the unions stated that the strike was initiated mainly due to a one-sided choice made by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to change established service conditions, especially regarding the disbursement of overtime compensation to senior personnel in public universities.
The unions state that in 2021, SSA-UoG reached a deal with the FWSC and the government acknowledging that senior staff at public universities qualify for overtime pay.
In May 2025, the University of Ghana (UG) halted the payment of overtime and introduced a “call-in allowance” due to financial limitations and objections from the Audit Service.
The unions stated that although they highlighted the current agreement to UG, their issues were disregarded, resulting in threats of strike action and the involvement of the National Labour Commission (NLC).
They indicated that during discussions at the NLC, the FWSC first recognized the agreement and instructed that overtime payments must persist while negotiations were in progress.
The unions stated that trust in the process was weakened when they subsequently received a letter from the FWSC to UG directing the university to halt overtime payments and instead enforce the call-in allowance. They stated that the FWSC refused to retract the letter, leading them to skip later negotiations.
The unions additionally charged the FWSC with changing its stance in subsequent NLC meetings by asserting that senior employees of public universities are not eligible for overtime pay.
Concerns were also expressed regarding delays at the NLC, pointing out that hearings were postponed due to the FWSC’s absence.
In the meantime, the unions stated that UG has completely enacted the call-in allowance, with comparable actions taken by the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) and the University for Development Studies (UDS), a situation they termed a significant risk to their service conditions.
Although expressing worry about the effects of the strike, the unions stated that the action was necessary.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
