TEWU members to lay down tools

Takoradi, Feb. 14, GNA - The Sekondi-Takoradi District Council of the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) has threatened to embark on an indefinite strike if the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and Ministry of Education Youth and Sports (MEYS) and the Ghana Education Service (GES), fail to rectify disparities and distortions in the salaries of members by February 29 this year.

They accused the ministries of not acting "in the spirit and letter" of the Standing Joint Negotiating Committee (SJNC) meeting held on December 17, 2003.

The members from 32 locals of the union gave the ultimatum at a meeting in Takoradi on Thursday.

They said that even though a memorandum dated January 12, 2004 directed the MEYS to settle the outstanding issues relating to the implementation of the Ghana Universal Salary Structure (GUSS) and Mandate negotiations with TEWU, so far nothing had been done.

The noted with concern the non-implementation of the scheme of work for the Non-Teaching staff of the GES and the non-implementation of the analogues grades for TEWU and said, "Such acts constitute negligence and total disregard for dialogue".

Members threatened to "lock-out" the Principal Industrial Relations Officer, Mr Maxwell Oduro, if the ministries failed to act expeditiously on the grievances of TEWU.

Mr. Daniel S. A. Dasah, Chairman of the Council, appealed to the members to exercise restraint while the National Executive of the Union negotiated for the correction of the anomalies. Mr. Owusu Hammond, Regional Chairman of the GES was present at the meeting.