Labour consultant, Mr. Austin Gamey has described members of the University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (UTAG) as being ignorant of the new Labour Act governing labour disputes. He said that situation must have informed the association’s current ‘illegal strike’, explaining that UTAG should have engaged the National Labour Commission (NLC) in discussions before going on the strike. Speaking with Adakabre Frimpong Manso on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsemprogramme, Mr. Gamey said the Labour Commission is the recognized body authorized to deal with and settle labour issues so it will be appropriate for UTAG to go back to the Commission and negotiate with it. Mr. Gamey, who was addressing the issue of the increase in strikes in the country, said UTAG members were being selfish embarking on the strike because they did not follow the due process. He said the fact that somebody holds a Doctorate (Ph. D) degree does not mean that the person knows it all. Mr. Gamey’s comment was in response to the outbursts of the President of the Cape Coast branch of UTAG, Dr. Eric Willmont, who claimed that the Labour Commission was under the control of government because it was established by government. Dr. Willmont was himself reacting to the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. J.S Annan’s comments that the UTAG strike was illegal because it had not been sanctioned by the NLC and proceeded to call Dr. Annan names. Mr. Gamey refuted the allegation that the Labour Commission is not an autonomous body, explaining that the Commission is a very strong body that plays a crucial role in the country, so it is improper for anybody to assume that it is influenced by anybody. In rebuttals he made on the same programme, Dr. Willmont said the Labour Commission and government had failed to respond to the lecturers’ grievances over the non-payment of their salaries over the last 10 months. He insisted that the NLC has not been very honest in its response to their issues, adding that enough time was given to the Commission to address their concerns before the decision to embark on the strike action. Story by Afia Pokua and Francis Hinakwa/Adom News