UTAG rejects GAUA’s discrimination claims over university staff allowances

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has dismissed allegations by the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) that discrepancies in allowances and market premiums between teaching and non-teaching senior staff at public universities constitute discrimination. UTAG maintains that disparities in remuneration do not inherently signify unfair treatment.

The association clarified that "a disparity, in and of itself, is not evidence of discrimination." This stance follows GAUA's decision to resume its strike over disparities in allowances for non-teaching senior staff at public universities. UTAG explained that public universities employ professionals from various disciplines, such as academics, administrators, and technicians, each with distinct roles, qualifications, and market conditions.

Therefore, UTAG argues that remuneration should be determined by objective factors like the complexity of duties, qualifications, and the scarcity of skills, rather than uniform compensation. The association also criticized the 114 percent harmonised market premium structure, introduced under the Single Spine Salary Structure in 2012, arguing that remuneration systems should adapt to evolving labour market conditions and institutional needs.

UTAG emphasized that a past harmonisation framework should not preclude subsequent adjustments or differences in pay. While supportive of fair compensation for non-teaching senior staff, UTAG rejected the notion that fairness necessitates eliminating differences between occupational groups. The association called on the government, relevant commissions, and other stakeholders to conduct an impartial review of the remuneration framework, considering various factors such as qualifications, workloads, and labour market comparisons.

UTAG urged all parties to engage in constructive dialogue to resolve the dispute peacefully, avoiding rhetoric that could exacerbate tensions within the university community.