Members of the Senior Staff Association of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have joined a nationwide strike to protest revisions to their terms of service by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC).
The protest, which began on Tuesday, is being observed at all government institutions in the country, including KNUST, where members of the association, dressed in red bands, gathered to encourage their coworkers to stay home until further notice.
George Ansong, National Chairman of the University Senior Staff Association, highlighted three significant reasons that have prompted the indefinite strike.
The first issue arose from what he called the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission’s arbitrary change of their terms of service without consent.
“Our first issue concerns the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission changing our terms of service without contacting the organization. We cannot be unconcerned. We will stay on strike until these circumstances are satisfied and serious talks with us take place.
Mr. Ansong stated that the strike is also caused by the government‘s failure to pay Tier Two pension contributions for senior personnel from August to December 2024, despite the fact that contributions for 2025 have been made.
“All efforts to contact our fund managers have produced no outcomes. We cannot sit back and watch as our Tier Two pension contributions remain with the government,” he added.
He further said that current pension rules impose a 3% penalty for non-payment, which the association believes must be applied in addition to the outstanding balance.
“The law is clear. Any delay in payment carries a three percent fine, and we are requesting that the government pay the outstanding months along with the penalty,” he said.
According to Mr. Ansong, the third issue relates to employees of the University of Media, Arts, and Communication (UniMAC), a combination of three organizations into a fully functional institution.
He observed that, since the formation of UniMAC, workers have not received their correct salaries and benefits.
“We have engaged the government through letters and meetings. Despite the fact that they were given appropriate salaries this year, the government has failed to pay them the money due to them since the institution achieved university status, he said.
Mr. Ansong concluded that until the government satisfactorily addresses these concerns, Senior Staff Association members will continue on strike.
Source: adomonline.com