By Philip Tengzu, GNA
Wa, (UW/R), Sept. 19, GNA – The Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) say it had endured for too long the unfair treatment and disregard for its members by the government in the signing of their Conditions of Service.
It expressed worry that the government had honoured the Conditions of Service for some staff within the education sector, including teaching staff, but was reluctant to sign the Conditions of Service for non-teaching staff.
Mr Samuel K. Berko, the Senior Industrial Relations Officer (IRO) of TEWU, Upper West Region, said this at Wa during a press conference to announce a strike action by TEWU in relation to their unsigned Conditions of Service.
He indicated that though the Union had engaged the current government on their Conditions of Service, the issues that affected their members remained unresolved, and promises made to them had not been fulfilled, which had necessitated the strike action.
Mr Berko acknowledged that though the strike action would affect the smooth running of the educational system, they would not call it off until the government addressed their grievances.
Reading a statement by Mr King James Azortibah, the General Secretary of TEWU, the TEWU Regional IRO observed that every staff member in the educational sector, including TEWU members, was important and should not be taken for granted.
“For years, the Non-teaching staff of the Ghana Education Service, public and Technical Universities, as well as staff of the Ghana Library Authority, the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, have been taken for granted.
Our Contributions to the smooth running of the educational system are indispensable, yet we are constantly sidelined when it comes to welfare, benefits, most importantly our Conditions of Service, which is rightfully enshrined in the Labour Act, Act 651”, he explained.
The unresolved issues the Union mentioned included a delay in signing the Conditions of Service of TEWU of TUC and all junior staff of public and technical universities, Non-teaching staff of the GES, Staff of the Museums and Monuments Board and staff of Ghana Library Authority.
Others were uncertainty of payment of Continuous Professional Development and Skills Allowance (CPDA) for non-teaching staff; unpaid weekend and overtime allowances of security and catering personnel in GES and public and technical universities; and unresolved promotion grievances in the GES for non-teaching staff.
TEWU, therefore demanded that the government resolve all those issues and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) should conclude and sign all Conditions of Service without further delay or excuses.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/ Christabel Addo