Government has expressed its commitment to address the concerns of the Teachers’ and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) over their working conditions.
Following the decision by the Union in its declaration of a nationwide strike on Wednesday January 13, 2020, their action was to demand better conditions of service from government.
The nationwide action caused an emergency meeting summoned by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission between TEWU and government represented by the Ministry of Finance, Education and Labour Employment Ministry.
Subsequently, a consensus reached by parties involved was to engage in job re-evaluation which will be conducted for members of the Union who are exposed to imminent hazards as far as the issue of Risk Allowances was concerned.
On issue bordering on promotions, a joint communique indicating that the Secretariat of the Vice Chancellors of Ghana (VCG) should convene a meeting of Directors of Human Resources with leadership of TEWU by Friday, 15th January, 2021 to discuss the details.
“That in furtherance of this agreement, the Secretariat of the VCG should make available to the leadership of TEWU relevant documents relating to the issue before Friday.
“On the issue of Non-basic Allowance, consultations would be held with the Government on Certificate of urgency and the outcome conveyed to TEWU as soon as possible,” the statement added.
For close to two years, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission has not been able to finalize issues on its condition of service, while members continue to work under very difficult situations.
The Local Union Chairman at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Charles Arthur, on Monday January 11, 2021 disclosed that, the Teachers’ and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) will embark on a nationwide strike beginning Wednesday, January 13, 2021.
Justifying the union’s intention, he stated that conclusion on negotiation on their demand for better conditions of service being unmet, merits the action.
The Teachers’ Union in December issued a statement that failure by the commission to conclude negotiations on the conditions of service is unfair and in bad faith.
With Universities expected to reopen, in January 2021, the Union stated that its members will still be delivering their services and “yet they will be working under a condition of service which has not been reviewed for close to 12 years”.
