GAUA suspends strike, university administrators to return on Monday
The association says negotiations have addressed about 80% of its grievances. Members will resume duties on October 19 while talks continue over outstanding pay and employment concerns.
The Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) has suspended its nationwide strike, directing members to return to work on Monday, October 19, while negotiations continue over outstanding grievances.
The suspension takes effect today Friday, October 16, following an engagement with the Ministry of Education and what the association described as a firm assurance that its concerns would be addressed.
GAUA’s National President, Rev. Kwaku Karikari Amoah, said its National Executive Committee (NEC) unanimously approved the decision after reviewing progress in negotiations.
“After we had done a thorough evaluation, we came to the consensus that about 80% of our grievances have been met,” he said.
The return is expected to help restore administrative operations at public universities. However, the suspension does not mark a full resolution of the dispute, with the association saying discussions with government stakeholders will continue.
GAUA’s grievances included market premium payments and what it described
as wrongful placement of members on the Single Spine Salary Structure.
Other concerns involved a negotiated 40% allowance for professionals in technical and public universities, an issue concerning the extension of the retirement rule beyond the fifth year, and a one-off allowance payment.
Rev. Amoah said the NEC examined each concern before deciding that sufficient progress had been made for members to resume work.
“On that basis, we agreed unanimously that we suspend the strike action so that our members will go back to the offices on Monday to work,” he said.
He credited the Education Minister with helping to facilitate discussions and secure progress on some of the demands.
The association would continue engaging government officials until the remaining matters were resolved, he added. No deadline for concluding those discussions was given in the announcement.
Rev. Amoah said the NEC was the association’s second-highest decision-making body after Congress and had the authority to suspend the industrial action on members’ behalf.
He said administrators would return to support their colleagues and help maintain calm on university campuses.
“GAUA has suspended its strike action, and we are going back to the offices to complement the efforts of our colleagues on campus,” he said.