The National Labour Commission (NLC) has instructed three university staff unions to promptly terminate their strike, citing breaches of Ghana’s Labour Act.
In a correspondence dated May 21, 2025, the Commission referenced Section 139(1)(d) of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), mandating the Senior Staff Association – Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG), the Technical University Administrators Association of Ghana (TUAAG), and the Federation of Universities Senior Staff Association of Ghana (FUSSAG) to cease their industrial action.
This directive follows a notice of intent to strike submitted to the Commission on May 12, regarding alleged failure to implement agreed-upon conditions of service. An agreement was established between the unions and the government on November 12, 2024.
The NLC convened a hearing on May 21, 2025, where FUSSAG and TUAAG were present, but SSA-UoG did not attend. Representatives from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), and the Ministry of Finance were also present.
Despite the Commission’s intervention and order to halt the strike, the unions disregarded the directive and continued their industrial action.
The NLC referenced a press release from the unions, also dated May 21, which announced an indefinite strike in response to what they termed the government’s ongoing violation of the agreement.
Consequently, the Commission has opted not to further address the issue, invoking Section 161 of the Labour Act, which prohibits consideration of matters involving illegal strike actions.
The NLC has urged the unions to end the strike and formally inform the Commission before any additional actions can be pursued.
