FWSC Slams University Unions Over ‘Unjustified’ Strike

The Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), Dr. George Smith-Graham, has criticised the leadership of the Senior Staff Association of the University of Ghana (SSA-UoG), the Federation of University Senior Staff Associations of Ghana (FUSSAG), and the Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU-TUC) for encouraging their members to embark on an industrial action he described as unjustified.

Commenting on the ongoing indefinite strike, which began on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, Dr. Smith-Graham said the unions’ decision to withdraw labour was based on a misinterpretation of the Single Spine Pay Policy (SSPP) and accused university management of failing to enforce basic work rules.

Speaking in an interview on Accra-based Citi FM, the FWSC CEO stated that overtime work under the SSPP has never been compulsory and was designed primarily for junior staff, stressing that senior staff are entitled to a call-in allowance rather than overtime pay.

“What is even more concerning is that they are on strike and therefore not working the eight hours they are paid for,” Dr. Smith-Graham said, adding, “I am surprised university management has allowed the strike to continue.”

He rejected claims by the unions that the Commission had altered conditions of service, insisting that the distinction between overtime and call-in allowance has existed since the introduction of the SSPP in 2010.

“The Single Spine Pay Policy started in 2010, when we introduced unified conditions of service, including what we refer to as category two and three allowances. Under these allowances, there is overtime and call-in. Overtime is meant for junior staff, while senior staff receive call-in allowance. So, it cannot be said that we have varied conditions of service,” he said.

Dr. Smith-Graham further emphasised that overtime work must be approved by management and cannot be imposed by employees.

“Overtime is not compulsory, so I am surprised they say they are on strike because they want to do overtime. You cannot force yourself to do overtime on any management. Overtime has to be determined by a superior officer,” he added.

He maintained that the FWSC has acted strictly within the framework of the SSPP and urged university management to take responsibility for restoring normal academic activities, warning that prolonged disruption risks undermining education delivery and public confidence.

The unions, however, maintain that the strike is justified. SSA-UoG, FUSSAG and Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU-TUC) argue that the FWSC has replaced overtime allowances with call-in allowances in breach of a 2021 agreement.

They are also demanding the payment of salary arrears owed to staff of recently upgraded universities, as well as five months of outstanding Tier Two pension contributions.