The Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) says its members will keep striking until government gives documented assurances on remuneration, its president said Tuesday.
National President Rev. Kwaku Karikari Amoah said the union’s dispute with government should not be framed as a contest between administrators and academics, stressing that GAUA is not comparing its pay with that of lecturers. He said a job evaluation carried out during the transition to the Single Spine Salary Structure initially rated administrative and professional staff at 120 percent of basic salary, against about 114 percent for other categories. The matter later went through the National Labour Commission and arbitration, which settled GAUA members’ pay at 114 percent of basic salary.
Amoah said the union’s present concern is how the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission handled negotiations over its remuneration package. He disputed suggestions that GAUA had negotiated for a new market premium, saying the union was initially told talks would focus on two items on its payslip, before later receiving communication describing the arrangement as a new market premium instead.
GAUA rejected a recent letter from the Finance Ministry because it diverged from what the union had agreed during negotiations, Amoah said. He said members want government to implement a 2012 arbitration ruling guaranteeing 114 percent of basic salary while broader remuneration arrangements are reviewed, arguing the value of that arrangement has eroded over time. “We need a documented proof that our request is accepted,” he said, adding that an invitation to negotiate alone would not be enough to end the strike.
Members of the union, who handle admissions, procurement, finance, human resources, and staff promotions and appointments, have withdrawn their services since the industrial action began. Amoah acknowledged the strike could affect students but said GAUA was exercising its right to industrial action. He said the union would pursue arbitration as a last resort if an independent review fails to resolve the dispute, and appealed to government to respond to its concerns to prevent the strike from dragging on.
