NLC Directs Striking University Unions to Resume Talks
Labour Commission grants one month for talks on salary arrears, pensions and overtime disputes.
- NLC orders unions to resume negotiations with FWSC and GTEC.
- Strike suspended after High Court injunction.
- Parties given one month to report progress on resolving arrears and pension concerns.
The National Labour Commission (NLC) has instructed four striking tertiary education unions to return to the negotiation table to resolve disputes over salary arrears, Tier Two pension contributions and overtime allowances.
The Commission directed the unions to continue discussions with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), the sector ministry and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC). All parties have been given one month to report back on progress toward resolving the issues that led to the industrial action.
The decision followed a meeting between the Commission, union representatives and the relevant state agencies aimed at addressing the concerns raised. The unions involved are the Senior Staff Association–Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG), the Teachers’ and Educational Workers’ Union of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) (TEWU-TUC), the Federation of Universities Senior Staff Association of Ghana (FUSSAG), and the Technical Universities Administrators Association of Ghana (TUAAG).
The unions have since agreed to suspend their strike after the NLC secured an injunction from the High Court.
Findings
At the meeting, the NLC noted that the migration of upgraded staff onto the appropriate salary structure had been completed as of January 1, 2026, to address concerns about arrears. It also found that portions of the Tier Two pension contributions in dispute had already been paid.
The Commission further explained that allowances under the Single Spine Salary Structure are negotiated by the Public Service Joint Standing Negotiating Committee, with overtime payments falling under Categories Two and Three of such allowances.
Background
Following the strike declaration, the NLC summoned the four unions under Section 139 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651). The move came after the Commission obtained an interim injunction from the High Court, which described the strike as illegal and ordered the unions to call it off immediately.
The injunction, granted on February 13, 2026, was issued by Justice Priscilla Dikro Ofori after an ex parte application by the Commission.
