‘They Have Been Paid’ – FWSC CEO Makes Fresh Revelation as GAUA Strike Continues

The Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), Dr George Smith-Graham, has expressed surprise that the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) continues to strike despite reaching an agreement with the Commission to allow further discussions on salary disparities.

Speaking on JoyNews AM Show on Monday, October 12, Dr Smith-Graham explained that negotiations with GAUA had been completed and the association had received its agreed payments.

However, the Commission had committed to reviewing additional proposals from the association aimed at addressing concerns about unequal remuneration.

He said the government had made the correction of disparities under the Single Spine Salary Structure a priority, with the FWSC and the Ministry of Finance working together to address inequalities affecting public sector institutions.

According to him, the Commission had concluded negotiations with 58 institutions, including GAUA, as part of the broader exercise to address salary-related concerns across the public sector.

“We have concluded negotiations with 58 institutions, including GAUA. We have signed an agreement with GAUA, concluded the negotiations with GAUA, and they have been paid,” he said.

Dr Smith-Graham attributed GAUA’s dissatisfaction to the association’s perception that the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) had secured more favourable conditions in its negotiations with the government.

He explained that GAUA became concerned about the terms agreed with UTAG and subsequently decided to embark on industrial action over what it considered an unfavourable outcome in its own negotiations.

The FWSC chief executive further disclosed that GAUA representatives had visited his office approximately a week earlier, leading to the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to facilitate further discussions on the association’s concerns.

During the meeting, he asked GAUA to submit proposals outlining possible solutions to the salary disparities.

He said the Commission was equally interested in addressing the inequalities and had agreed to study the proposals before determining the appropriate way forward.

Dr Smith-Graham emphasised that the decision to consider fresh proposals did not mean the original negotiations remained unresolved, insisting that the agreement had been concluded and the corresponding payments made.

He said he had expected the association to suspend its strike following the understanding reached at the meeting, which was intended to give the Commission sufficient time to assess its proposals.

However, he expressed disappointment after learning on Friday that the industrial action was still ongoing, despite the agreement reached with the association’s leadership.

Dr Smith-Graham reiterated that the FWSC would review GAUA’s proposals and provide a response by the end of October.

He maintained that the initial negotiations had been completed and the agreed payments fulfilled, while the additional discussions were intended to address the association’s remaining concerns over salary disparities.

Source: https://www.myjoyonline.com/it-still-surprises-me-gaua-is-on-strike-after-signing-mou-fair-wages-ceo/

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