The National Labour Commission (NLC) has given government, and striking University unions one month to engage on the issues that led the unions to declare a strike.
At a meeting held on Wednesday February 18, between government, represented by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), The Ministry of Education and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) on one hand, and the four striking tertiary education unions: the Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana (SSA-UOG), the Teachers and Education Workers Union of the Trade Union Congress (TEWU of TUC), the Federation of University Senior Staff Association of Ghana (FUSSAG) and the Technical Universities Administrators Association of Ghana (TUAAG), on the other, the unions tabled their list of grievances.
These include the failure of Government to pay four years of salary arrears after the merger and upgrade 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 and Communication (UniMAC), Government’s failure to release Tier 2 contributions to Fund managers for investment for more than six months, and the FWSC’s unilateral decision to alter the conditions of service on overtime.
After hearing all parties the NLC determined that the effective date of migration was January 1, 2026, “so the issue of salaries does not arise.” It also found that part of the Tier 2 contributions had been paid.
It also found that following the migration onto the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS), allowances for public services are negotiated by the Public Service Joint Standing Negotiating Committee (PSJSNC) under category 2&3, with overtime pay being one of such allowances.
The NLC thus directed that on the issue of salary arrears the parties must engage further. On the tier 2 contributions, it directed the unions to engage with government on the timelines for for the payment of arrears.
Meanwhile on the issue of overtime allowances, it has directed the parties to to engage, negotiate in good faith and exchange all relevant documents that will facilitate amicable settlement.
All parties have until March 25 to report back to the NLC.
