The entrance of the KNUST
The KNUST branch of the Tertiary Education Workers Union of Ghana TEWU – GH has raised red flags with the nomination of a disputed representative unto the Council of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
The union contends Michael Ayuune, who has been presented by the Teachers and Education Workers Union of the Trade Union Congress TEWU of TUC, cannot hold that position when substantive matters between TEWU-GH AND TEWU of TUC remain unresolved.
In a letter written to the university management, signed by the Secretary of KNUST TEWU-GH, Doreen Mould Ayiku, the union pleaded with the university to refrain from accepting the disputed nominee, to prevent an industrial disharmony.
“TEWU-GH Members are agitating that any attempt by the University Authority to accept the nomination from TEWU- of TUC as their representative on KNUST Council will lead to industrial disharmony in KNUST campus.
"In view of this, we therefore, plead with the University Authority to wait until the matter is resolved so as not to bring any industrial disharmony in KNUST Campus,” the letter stated.
TEWU – GH has had cause to complain about the reluctance of the university management to recognize the union after it severed ties with the Teachers and Education Workers Union of the TUC in June 2022.
The leadership of the union has, however, protested the stance providing its documents of incorporation secured under the Labor Act with the sweeping approval of its constituents in all sixteen public universities in Ghana.
This has occasioned the intervention of the Ghana Tertiary Education Council (GTEC) which has set up a committee with membership of both sides, chaired by GTEC, to resolve issues around council representation and sharing of assets.
Reliable information gathered from union leadership suggests that GTEC, in a meeting with the leadership of both Unions, gave assurances that it had stopped the swearing-in of union representatives on councils of public universities.
The GTEC, the regulator, however, directed all union reps on councils to complete their tenures.
