Accra, Feb. 10, GNA- An Accra High Court has granted extension of time to the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and the National Labour Commission (NLC) to settle their impasse out of court.
The Court has, therefore, adjourned the matter to February 15.
When the matter came up in court this afternoon, the Judge invited lawyers in the matter to the bench for a 30-minute discussion and later adjourned the matter.
Mr Kwesi Keli Delata, counsel for UTAG, told journalists that said this morning between UTAG and Government ended inconclusive after the team from Government said it could not continue with discussions if UTAG was still on strike.
“This morning government team and UTAG held meeting for four hours and the indication we had was that, they (government team) can’t continue with negotiations when UTAG is still on strike, so the meeting was inconclusive.
“Well, we in court because the NLC said the strike was illegal, but we say its legal and we will prove NLC wrong.”
On February 3, this year, the Court asked the leadership of UTAG and NLC to settle their impasse out of court.
Justice Frank Rockson Abodwe gave them today to report to the court.
The NLC had dragged UTAG to court following the Association’s refusal to comply with directives to call off its strike.
The Commission had filed two applications before the court.
The first is a motion for the enforcement of the directives issued by the NLC on January 13, this year, for UTAG to return to the lecture halls so teaching could commence.
The second is an interlocutory injunction to restrain UTAG from continuing with the strike.
UTAG on Monday January 10, this year, embarked on industrial action over “worsening” condition of service.
The NLC after hearing the case on Thursday January 13, 2022, ruled that the strike be called off because it was illegal and did not follow due process.
UTAG, however, continued the industrial action despite the NLC’s directive to call it off.
The NLC then sued UTAG for disregarding its directive.
GNA