Work at GES & Ministry to be disrupted

Accra, May 19, GNA - Work at the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education is likely to be disrupted, if arrears accruing from salary disparities affecting non-teaching staff at the two places are not paid by May 31, the Ghana News Agency (GNA) has learnt.

Sources told the GNA that efforts to get the payment effected since 2001 had proved futile and that attempts by union members to negotiate new conditions of service also did not yield any results.

Union leaders at the two places said the situation had resulted in tension and a low morale among the rank and file at the two places. They said in order to avert any unfortunate situation, the TEWU had sent a reminder to the Acting Director-General of the GES, copied to the Minister of Education and Sports, asking them to act swiftly to address the grievances.

The letter, which was signed by Mr Dan Ayim, General Secretary of TEWU, described the authorities' silence on the issue as "very unfortunate" and warned that the Union would "surely advise itself" if the four-year old grievance was not addressed by May 31, this year. On April 15, this year, the National Executive Council, which is the highest decision-making body of TEWU, adopted a resolution, calling for full payment of the arrears, as well as new negotiations on conditions of service for members.

When contacted, management GES sources told the GNA that the necessary documentation had been completed and that it was left for the Ministry of Finance to release the funds.