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Voting on whether or not to support the decision to go on strike in accordance with the organization’s constitution has begun among members of the University Teachers Association (UTAG) on a number of campuses.
At the University for Development Studies (UDS), voting is now complete, with 311 members casting ballots.
13.5% disagreed with the proposal that UTAG announce an industrial action, while 86.5 % supported it.
Prof. Mamudu Akurugu, the president of UTAG, is optimistic that the decision to go on strike will be supported by a vote on every campus.
He said, “By Tuesday, October 8, the voting will be finished.”
“In the case of UTAG, our constitution mandates that individuals have to vote for the declaration of an industrial action and we have started that process already. We have faith in our members who asked us to join organised labour, and we are sure that the overwhelming majority of our members will vote for the industrial action to be declared.”
There are still votes being cast on other campuses.
In the meanwhile, the organized labour leadership is certain that, should their demands not be satisfied, they would launch a statewide strike on Thursday, October 10.
The organization is demanding the revocation of L.I. 2462, which enables mining in forest reserves, the establishment of a state of emergency to safeguard rivers and water bodies, and small-scale mining be temporarily prohibited.
In a meeting with labour leaders, President Akufo-Addo asked for more time to answer their requests, albeit it appears that they also agreed to revoke the L.I. that allows mining in forest areas.
To deliberate on the next line of action, organized labour is now convening at the TUC conference room in Accra.
Asserting that “you don’t use wrong to correct wrong,” some labor union members have rejected the demand, arguing that it is not the appropriate strategy for resolving the galamsey issue.
“Our views have not been taken. It’s just a few people at the top and they know what they have been taking. They can’t make decisions for some of us. We are in academia – we are teaching and you just get up there and make a decision that you alone are declaring a strike. You are declaring strike for what?” Dr Solomon Forkuo Kwarteng stated.
He continued by saying that while he was not against the move, they should be given the benefit of the doubt because they were not consulted.
The leaders of Organized Labor in the Ashanti Region are given a 48-hour ultimatum by the concerned members to engage members prior to their compliance with the mandate.
“We are giving them 48 hours to come back to the grassroots and engage in discussions with us to accept or incorporate our views. Declaring the strike is not the way forward.”
“They should cancel whatever they have issued first and come back and take our views. Our views may help solve this problem once and for all,” Dr Fokuo stated.
“They should come back and sit with us, you cannot just declare it before you even come to talk to us” he added.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
