Features
UTAG strike: Good news in the air?
Owners of many ‘small’ businesses on the various campuses of the 15 public universities in the country are ‘jubilating’.
This follows the announcement made by the National Executive Council of the University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (UTAG) on Monday, February 21, 2022, suspending its ‘worrying’ strike action.
Owners of ‘small’ businesses on campuses are not ‘jubilating’ alone; many students are also ‘celebrating’ the announcement by UTAG to resume teaching.
A statement jointly signed by the national President of UTAG, Professor Solomon Nunoo and the national Secretary, Dr Asare Asante-Annor , said the suspension of the strike action is expected to last until March 4, 2022.
By the set time-frame, UTAG says, it is expecting to reach ‘a workable consensus’ with Government over deliberations to better the service conditions of ‘ the University Teacher’.
UTAG has been on strike since January 10, 2022, over its impasse with Government to review the conditions of service of university teachers.
The UTAG strike has paralysed many ‘small’ businesses in and around the 15 public universities in the country.
A University of Cape Coast-based caterer, Madam Anita Rhule, says:”The existence of the public universities has provided a lot of informal job opportunities for many people and ‘small-small’ businesses; especially for some of us in the catchment areas of the universities.”
According to Madam Rhule; “anytime the public universities are paralysed by ‘industrial malaria’, the ‘small-small’ businesses in and around the universities are heavily affected by the ‘paralysis’ of that ‘malaria’ because we cannot also ‘soundly’ operate our businesses.”
Explaining further, she said, “our businesses are mostly patronized by the university students and teachers and so if the universities are non-functional or closed, our businesses seriously suffer.”
Indeed, many stakeholders of tertiary education, including parents and guardians , are also hailing the announcement suspending the UTAG strike action.
Welcoming the decision of UTAG to suspend its strike action, Professor Kofi Agyekum , Head of the Linguistics Department of the University of Ghana, advised UTAG members to return to the lecture theatres “while the UTAG and Government work out a compromise to resolve the impasse.”
Professor Agyekum, himself a member of UTAG, said:”UTAG must accept that the students have not done us anything wrong. Our grievances are with Government. If we see it that way, we will not act to the detriment of the students because of the Government’s actions or inactions.”
The UTAG statement suspending its strike action said, it had “agreed to heed the advice of the eminent leaders (who met them), the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education and the court ruling to suspend our strike action.”
UTAG expects Government to restore its ‘agreed’ 2012 conditions of service to its members. The 2012 ‘agreed’ but ‘not implemented’ conditions of service pegged the monthly income entry-level lecturers at $2,084. UTAG now claims “the current arrangement has reduced members’ basic premiums to $997.84.”
The University of Education, Winneba Chapter of UTAG has, however, voted against the National Executive Council’s decision to suspend the strike action.
Dr. Pascal Kpodo, Vice President of UTAG-UEW says,”we are waiting for the other campuses to vote on the matter within five days.”
According to Dr Kpodo:”These resolutions will go back to the National Executive Council and they will take a final decision.”
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), on the other hand, has announced resumption of academic activities on campus, beginning on Thursday, February 24, 2022. Dr. Eric Abavari, General Secretary of the KNUST Chapter of UTAG rather says, the university will halt lectures on Monday, February 28, 2022, if the membership of UTAG votes to reject the National Executive Council’s decision to suspend the strike.
The national leadership of UTAG also insists that UTAG will resume its suspended industrial action, “if Government fails to fulfill its promise of improving its members’ working conditions within the 14 days breathing space.”
Professor Nunoo says: “We know Government has not fulfilled its part of the bargain in many signed agreements in the recent past.
“However, due to the involvement of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education and some eminent persons, we expect the Government to carry through its promises this time round.”
So, readers, let’s keep our fingers crossed while waiting for the outcome of the 14-day ‘grace period’.
Contact email/ WhatsApp of the author:
asmahfrankg@gmail.com (0505556179)
By G. Frank Asmah
Introduction
In today’s fast-paced, high-achieving society, it’s common to glorify long hours and an unwavering commitment to one’s profession. However, when dedication turns into an obsession, it can have severe and far-reaching consequences.
Workaholism, a pattern of behavior characterised by excessive and compulsive work habits, is a complex and multifaceted issue that affects millions of people worldwide.
Defining workaholism: The Psychology behind the behavior
Workaholism is often driven by a combination of internal and external factors, including:
Internal Pressures:
Perfectionism: an unrelenting drive for flawlessness
Fear of failure: anxiety about not meeting expectations
Need for control: a desire to micromanage every aspect of work and life
External Pressures:
Job demands: high expectations from employers or clients
Organisational culture: a workplace environment that encourages or demands excessive work hours
Societal expectations: pressure to succeed and maintain a certain status
The health consequences: A growing concern
Prolonged workaholism can lead to a range of serious health issues, including:
1. Cardiovascular problems: hypertension, heart disease, and stroke due to chronic stress and neglect of physical health
2. Mental health concerns: anxiety, depression, and burnout, often exacerbated by lack of social support and self-care
3. Sleep disorders: insomnia, sleep deprivation, and related health issues, such as impaired cognitive function and mood disturbances
4. Immune system suppression: increased susceptibility to illnesses, such as colds, flu, and autoimmune diseases
5. Nutritional deficiencies: poor eating habits, weight changes, and related health problems, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease
The lethality risks: A hidden danger
In extreme cases, workaholism can have lethal consequences, including:
1. Sudden cardiac death: increased risk due to chronic stress, hypertension, and neglect of physical health
2. Suicide: work-related stress and pressure can contribute to suicidal ideation, particularly in individuals with underlying mental health conditions
3. Accidents and injuries: fatigue and decreased cognitive function increase the risk of workplace accidents and errors
The social and emotional toll: Relationships and identity
Workaholism can also have devastating effects on personal relationships and overall well-being, leading to:
1. Strained relationships: family, friends, and colleagues may feel neglected, abandoned, or resentful
2. Loss of personal identity: over-identification with work can lead to a loss of interests, hobbies, and sense of purpose outside of work
3. Decreased productivity: burnout and decreased motivation can result in reduced job performance and satisfaction
4. Impaired cognitive function: decreased creativity, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities due to chronic stress and fatigue
Breaking the cycle: Strategies for recovery
Recognising the signs of workaholism is crucial to preventing its negative consequences. Strategies for overcoming workaholism include:
1. Setting boundaries: establishing a healthy work-life balance and prioritising self-care
2. Prioritising self-care: engaging in activities that promote physical and emotional well-being, such as exercise, meditation, and social connections
3. Seeking support: therapy, support groups, and social connections can provide emotional support and guidance
4. Re-evaluating priorities: reassessing values and goals to align with a more balanced and fulfilling life
Conclusion
Workaholism is a serious issue that can have severe and far-reaching consequences for individuals, organisations, and society as a whole. By acknowledging the risks and taking proactive steps to maintain a healthy work-life balance, we can mitigate the negative effects of workaholism and promote overall well-being.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
How many times have we not made New Year resolutions but have not been able to achieve them?
When we are unable to achieve them we vow to ourselves that at the end of the year, we shall make proper New Year resolutions and this time we will make it happen only for the New Year to travel on and close to the end the story repeats itself.
A lot of people find themselves in this situation and if they were to rate their success, it may hover around 48 per cent. There is a popular quote that is generally attributed to Einstein that” Insanity, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
“A careful analysis will most likely reveal that, the discipline required to put in the required effort and the consistency required is absent in the execution phase of whatever plan has been put in place to realise the objectives.
Discipline according to the Oxford Dictionary is the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behaviour, with punishment or other undesirable consequences for those failing to comply.
When we say someone is disciplined, what can be observed in his behaviour is consistency whether it is in connection with reporting for events on time, providing a particular service as promised on schedule etc.
In other words, that behaviour has become routine or has become a habit. If 2026 is going to be different from the previous years, as far as the achievement of New Year’s resolutions are concerned, then things must be done in a routine manner which will then ensure consistency.
If the resolution is say a closer walk with God by the end of the year for example, then the plan may be to sleep early enough and be able to wake up at say 5:00 am and pray and meditate on the Word of God.
This must be done every day, that is, you should have the discipline to make this routine behaviour which some people refer to as habit and that is what would ensure the realisation of your objective by the end of the year.
The question of how did you arrive at your new year’s resolution becomes very important. It brings in the God factor, which for me as a believer is very important because if you are say an Entrepreneur, then innovate ideas are what you need and according to Deuteronomy 8:18, innovative ideas to get wealth comes from God.
I believe that to be able to achieve our new year’s resolutions, we must approach them with a project management mindset. We should break the year into periods, either quarterly or monthly and evaluate our performance.
The end of the periods we have chosen should mark the achievement of certain goals or key milestones. This will reveal to us whether we are on track, whether we need to double up or there is the need to adjust certain things.
This year start looking at potential hindrances to the achievement of your resolutions. Check how much time you spend on social media for fun, like following the Akosua Serwaa and Odo Broni story and not for learning something useful that can add value to your life.
On a personal level, I have started cutting the time spent on listening to news and debates on various media platforms and using the time to polish my German and French as one of my resolutions.
Yours may be the time you spend on the phone chatting with friends, so please watch it and adjust especially as a child of God, so you too can have a testimony to share on December 31, 2026, to the glory of God. God bless.
NB: ‘KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
