TEWU members demonstrates over salary demand

Accra, Nov. 26, GNA - Placard bearing non-teaching staff of the Ghana Education Service (GES) who are members of the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) on Friday went on a demonstration to protest delays in the payment of their salary adjustments. They gave an ultimatum that if no action was taken on their demand by the close of work on Friday, the union would advise itself. Some of their placards read, "Pay us our correct salaries", "Ghana Government we also contribute to education", "Pay us correct salary",

"Our patience has been over-stretched" and "Monkey dey work, bamboo dey chop".

In a resolution presented to the Acting Director-General of the GES, the Union expressed concern about the silence of the GES boss on a resolution they had earlier sent to him complaining about salary distortions and disparities affecting the analogous grades. The also mentioned non-payment of negotiated allowances and non implementation of grades established in 1995 scheme of service. Mrs Susan Kennedy, Director, Human Resource Management and Development division of the GEES, who received the resolution on behalf of the Acting Director-General, said work on the disparities had gone far and that approval would be given soon.

Mrs Kennedy therefore urged them to be patient because "very soon you will hear good news".

Mr Dan Antwi, General Secretary of TEWU, said no one should read politics in the genuine demand of the unionists because the struggle to get things done right began as far back 1999.

"We will not relent in our struggle and it would be sustained whether in an election period or not", Mr Antwi added.