KNUST votes against suspension of UTAG strike

Lecturers of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) chapter of UTAG, have voted against the suspension of the University Teachers’ Association of Ghana strike as directed by the National Executive Committee (NEC).

In the referendum, total of 1,186 voters, 654 voted against the suspension, while 211 voted for the motion.

The University Teachers’ Association of Ghana in a quest to honor the court’s order, Vice-Chancellors pleas, the education committee of Parliament amongst other relevant bodies, temporarily suspended its almost 7 weeks old strike.

The suspension decision was arrived at a National Executive Meeting to give the government until March 4, 2022, to finalise negotiations concerning their working conditions.

While that is ongoing, all the 15 public universities in the country are to vote for or against the suspension of the strike.

The University of Education Winneba (UEW), The University of Ghana (UG), University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA) have so far voted against the suspension.

The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), and the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) have voted for the suspension of the strike.

The referendum is expected to end by Monday, February 28, 2022, for the decision to be taken whether the strike should resume or remain suspended. A total of 8 universities voting for the suspension will cause the strike to remain. The reverse, however, will mean the strike should resume.

Despite the disparity in the voting by members, several universities have already announced the resumption of academic activities.