The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has dismissed claims by the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) that differences in market premiums and other allowances between teaching and non-teaching senior members in public universities amount to discrimination.

UTAG says the existence of differences in pay does not automatically mean one group is being treated unfairly.

In a statement issued on Monday, August 10, the association argued that senior members in public universities perform different functions and have varying qualifications, responsibilities and labour market demands.

It said the university system brings together academics, administrators, accountants, auditors, librarians, lawyers, technicians and other professionals whose roles support one another but are not the same.

According to UTAG, remuneration should therefore reflect the specific demands of each profession rather than be based solely on a uniform rate across all categories.

The association said factors such as the level of responsibility, required qualifications, scarcity of expertise, prevailing labour market conditions and the need to recruit and retain skilled professionals should inform decisions on market premiums.

UTAG’s position follows GAUA’s decision to resume its suspended strike over what it describes as unequal market premiums and related allowances between teaching and non-teaching senior members.

GAUA has argued that the disparities undermine the principle of fairness, particularly because both groups operate within the same university system.

UTAG, however, challenged the association’s reliance on the 114% market premium that was harmonised for senior members when the Single Spine Salary Structure was introduced in 2012.

It argued that the labour market and institutional demands have changed since then, making it necessary for compensation arrangements to evolve accordingly.

The teachers’ association said a previous decision to harmonise remuneration cannot be used as a basis for preventing future adjustments that reflect differences between occupational groups.

UTAG stressed that it supports better conditions of service for non-teaching senior members and is not opposed to efforts to improve their remuneration.

It nevertheless rejected the argument that fairness requires identical compensation for professionals performing different duties.

The association has consequently called for an independent assessment of the remuneration structure for senior members of public universities.

It wants the review to involve the government, Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, Ministry of Education, National Labour Commission and other relevant stakeholders.

UTAG said the assessment should consider professional qualifications, workload, responsibilities, promotion pathways, labour market comparisons, staff retention and the overall compensation package for different occupational groups.

It also urged the parties involved in the dispute to avoid statements that could deepen tensions within the university community and instead pursue negotiations based on evidence and objective assessment.