In a bold move, the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has joined forces with the Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG), declaring a nationwide strike starting Friday, September 20, 2024.
The strike is a response to the government’s failure to address long-standing demands for improved working conditions.
According to TEWU, the government has reneged on previously agreed-upon conditions, including the implementation of Vehicle Maintenance and Off-Campus allowances, despite approval from the Ministry of Finance.
The Controller and Accountant General’s Department’s inaction has left TEWU members without these benefits.
Furthermore, the union claims the government owes eight months’ worth of Tier Two deductions, withheld from employees’ salaries but not remitted to the union’s scheme.
TEWU also demands recalculation and payment of interest accrued from delayed deductions between 2010 and 2016.
The SSA-UoG, already on strike since September 16, 2024, shares TEWU’s frustration over unfulfilled agreements.
The combined strike action is expected to disrupt public universities nationwide, impacting the academic calendar.
TEWU urges its members to join the industrial action, calling on the government to address these outstanding issues to ensure a dignified retirement for its members.
The strike underscores the growing tensions between Ghana’s educational workforce and the government, highlighting the need for urgent resolution.
-BY Daniel Bampoe