Three labour unions representing staff of public universities have declared an indefinite strike with immediate effect, citing alleged unfair treatment and violations of existing agreements by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and government.
In a statement dated February 3, 2026, the unions said the strike was prompted by the FWSC’s unilateral changes to conditions of service, including the removal of overtime allowances for senior staff, which were replaced with a call-in allowance.
The unions contend that a 2021 agreement signed with the FWSC and government guaranteed overtime allowances for senior staff. They noted that the University of Ghana suspended these payments last year, and that the suspension has since been extended to other institutions, including the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) and the University for Development Studies (UDS), despite ongoing negotiations.
The unions also expressed concern over the non-payment of salary arrears and allowances covering a four-year period, following the upgrading of NAFTI, GIL, and GIJ into the University of Media Arts and Communication (UniMAC).
Additionally, the unions raised issues regarding the non-payment of five months of Tier Two pension contributions from August to December 2024, calling for the application of penalties in accordance with pension regulations.
The unions stated that the decision to go on strike was made reluctantly but emphasised that fairness and respect for agreed conditions of service remain non-negotiable.
