The National Labour Commission (NLC) has intervened to halt the strike action by four major university staff unions, directing them to return to the negotiating table to resolve grievances over salary arrears and pension contributions.
Following a crunch meeting between the Commission, the striking unions, and the employer side, the parties have been given a one-month ultimatum to report back on the progress of negotiations. The industrial action, which had disrupted academic activities across the country’s public universities, has now been suspended in compliance with a High Court order.
Parties Given One Month to Find Solution
In a directive issued after the meeting, the NLC ordered the unions to resume immediate engagement with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), the Ministry of Education, and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC). The core issues on the table include outstanding salary arrears, delays in Tier Two pension contributions, and unpaid overtime allowances.
The NLC has mandated all parties to reconvene with the Commission within four weeks to present a report on the progress made toward a lasting resolution.
Unions Involved
The four unions at the center of the dispute are:
· The Senior Staff Association–Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG)
· The Teachers’ and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU-TUC)
· The Federation of Universities Senior Staff Association of Ghana (FUSSAG)
· The Technical Universities Administrators Association of Ghana (TUAAG)
NLC Findings
During the hearing, the NLC established that some progress had already been made on the grounds of the strike. It was noted that as of January 1, 2026, the migration of upgraded staff onto the new salary structure had been completed, which should address the concerns relating to salary arrears.
Furthermore, the Commission revealed that a portion of the disputed Tier Two pension contributions had already been paid.
Regarding the demand for overtime premiums, the NLC clarified that under the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS), such allowances fall under Categories Two and Three. Consequently, they must be formally negotiated through the Public Service Joint Standing Negotiating Committee (PSJSNC) , a process the unions have now been directed to pursue.
Background: Court Orders End to ‘Illegal’ Strike
The directive follows a dramatic turn of events earlier this week. The NLC secured an interim injunction from the High Court on February 13, 2026, which effectively declared the strike illegal.
Presiding over the ex parte application, Justice Priscilla Dikro Ofori ordered the unions to call off the industrial action with immediate effect.
Following the court order and the subsequent summons from the NLC—issued under Section 139 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651)—the unions have now agreed to comply and have suspended the strike to allow for the one-month negotiation window.
