TEWU, others to sign conditions of service by Jan.29

The National Labour Commission (NLC) has given the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) and the other parties up to January 29, 2025, to conclude and sign all their conditions of service.

The other parties are the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), the Ghana Education Service (GES), the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

This is contained in a circular to its rank-and-file to update them on current development following the industrial action it declared over the delayed conclusion and implementation of the conditions of service for the Ghana Education Service (GES), Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB), Ghana Library Authority (GLA) and the Public & Technical Universities.

Strike 

TEWU declared an indefinite strike on November 18, 2024, over the issues raised.

Subsequently, the National Labour Commission (NLC), invited the union and other parties to a meeting on November 20, 2024, and directed the union to call off its strike while the relevant government agencies were directed to take the necessary steps to address the grievances.  

The parties were asked to report back to the commission on November 27, 2024, for the hearing of the substantive case.

As a result of the NLC directive, the Union in a circular dated November 20, 2024, suspended its industrial action, in order to engage the relevant state agencies on their grievances.

“In view of this, a meeting took place with the FWSC and others on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, on the issues of the Condition of Service negotiations. 

“The joint negotiating teams made up of the FWSC, GES, the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Finance (MOF) on the part of the employer and TEWU OF TUC (GH) representing the union, went through the process of the rules of engagement and agreed on all the details.

They then signed the documents to pave the way for negotiations to begin,” the circular said.

Circular 

The circular signed by the General Secretary of TEWU, King James Azortibah, said the government side of the negotiations team then assured the union’s representatives that by Friday, November 29, 2024, a specific date will be communicated for negotiations to take off next week. 

“The union team indicated their preparedness to negotiate in good faith and with prompt timelines.

The meeting was adjourned, awaiting the date for next week to be announced to begin negotiations on the proposals on the conditions of service for the affected institutions.

In fulfilment of the directive issued by the NLC on November 20, 2024, both teams on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, reported back to the commission, where they affirmed that the necessary processes had been activated to negotiate in good faith and they will report back when negotiations are completed.

Having witnessed the positive developments so far, TEWU thanked its members for their support and solidarity during the strike action.