The University of the Gambia Staff Association has been sued by the university administration over their planned sit-down strike.
“The attention of the Administration of the University of The Gambia has been drawn to an announcement of a sit-down strike by the University of The Gambia Staff and Faculty Association (UTGSFA). Following this, the University filed an Application before the High Court challenging the legality of the sit-down strike. The University further made an application for an interim injunction against any sit-down strike or industrial action by the UTGSFA pending the hearing of its main application,” a statement from the UTG stated.
“The High Court sitting at Bundung has on Tuesday made an order of interim injunction restraining the UTGFSA, its executive, officers, members, agents, servants, employees or whosoever, from embarking on the industrial strike action scheduled to take place on the 15th September, 2021 in relation to the resolution passed by the UTGSFA at its Congress held on the 8th of September 2021, pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons or further orders of the High Court; and an interim injunction directed at all the members of the Executive Committee of the UTGSFA to immediately and publicly call off their planned strike or industrial action scheduled to take place on the 15th September 2021 pending the hearing and determination of the matter; an Interim Injunction that the President and the Executive Committee of the UTGSFA be restrained from organizing or holding any form of picketing or industrial strike action pending the hearing and determination of this matter,” it added.
It further stated that the UTGSFA are notified of the Court orders and are urged to comply with, failure of which shall amount to contempt of Court; saying the staff are therefore advised to report to work as normal in line with the Court order and Council resolution.
It urged the students to go about their normal activities, and the University assured the students that they would not relent in ensuring that the Academic Calendar is not adversely impacted.
Prior to this development, the University Faculty and Staff Association announced to begin an industrial action on 15th September, until certain demands of theirs are addressed.
Meanwhile, the University of the Gambia Faculty and Staff Association has acknowledged receipt of a court ruling restraining them from striking on Wednesday, but it urged its members to stay at home as initially communicated to them, while it seeks advice from its Lawyer.
“The President of The Staff Association has been served with a document at 9:30pm this night [Tuesday] by three individuals purportedly from the Bundung High Court. The document on the face of it appears to be a ruling of the court granted by the Bundung High Court. The court document will [be] forwarded to our lawyer for legal advice and then we will respond to it appropriately. As citizens of this country, we reiterate our fundamental right not to be forced to work and this right is protected by our constitution. We therefore ask our members to stay home as earlier communicated until our demands are met or further advice from the Executive.
“No one should come to work as agreed by the Congress,” the association said in a statement sent to this medium on Tuesday evening.” The University Faculty and Staff Association announced to begin an industrial action on 15th September, until certain demands of theirs are addressed.
