Regional News of Thursday, 5 September 2013

Source: joyonline

NEC will decide fate of Legon members - UTAG President

President of the University Teachers Association, Dr. Anthony Simmons, has hinted that action taken by the Legon Chapter of the association might incur some repercussions.

UTAG has been striking over unpaid book and research allowance for the past 4 weeks, but Joynews has confirmed the Legon Chapter of the Association had returned to the lecture theatres though the mother association is still on its four week long industrial action.

Speaking on JOYNEWS’ Midday brief, Dr. Simmons explained UTAG had come to a consensus after a national executives meeting to only quit the strike after receiving a written assurance for payment of their book and research allowances. He added that the action of the Legon branch was distasteful.

However, President of the Legon Chapter, Dr. Iagbon Bimi, who also spoke on the Midday Brief said, the decision of the Legon Chapter to return to the lecture halls, may have arisen from the misinterpretation of a circular from the vice chancellors association of Ghana. He didn’t, however, give any indications, their actions will be reversed.

The national president of UTAG who will not divulge the kind of punishment for Legon, indicated the National Executive Committee will meet soon to take a decision. Dr. simmons was however quick to add that the move by Legon would not affect the negotiation process promising the lecturers will be back in the lecture halls as soon as the documented assurance from government is received.