TEWU protest against stalled salary negotiations

Accra, Nov. 30, GNA- The Teachers and Educational workers Union (TEWU) of the Trades Union Congress, on Tuesday, expressed dissatisfaction about the refusal of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to mandate the Conference of Polytechnic Principals (COPP) to negotiate for new salaries for its members.

At a Press Conference held in Accra, Mr Dan Ayim Antwi, General Secretary of TEWU, said "We find it difficult to understand Government's refusal to give mandate for commencement of negotiations", while allowing the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana the opportunity to negotiate new allowances.

"We wish to emphasize that the frustration of the unionised staff and their agitation may be protracted if Government fails to give COPP the needed mandate for negotiations to commence."

Mr Antwi said the collective bargaining agreement of unionised staff of polytechnics in Ghana expired on January 1, this year and as a result TEWU submitted proposals to COPP for review on July 12, this year. At a COPP-TEWU meeting on September 10, 2004, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding, which scheduled another meeting to commence negotiation on TEWU proposals that comprised salaries and conditions of service.

Mr Antwi said due to the distortions and disparities following the introduction of the Ghana Universal Salary Structure in 1999, the non-teaching staff of the Ghana Education Service and 6000 members of TEWU had their salaries slashed.

Mr Antwi said efforts to resolve the issue with the authorities had not yielded any positive results.