Classrooms across Ghana are bracing for widespread disruption as the Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) of TUC (Ghana) begins an indefinite nationwide strike from Friday, 19 September.
The union, which represents thousands of non-teaching staff in the education sector, accuses the government of “persistent failure” to address long-standing grievances despite months of negotiations.
In a statement signed by General Secretary King James Azortibah, TEWU ordered all members—including employees of the Ghana Education Service (GES), public and technical universities, the Ghana Library Authority, and the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board—to remain at home until further notice.
“This decision has become inevitable due to Government and employer institutions’ persistent failure to address long-standing concerns… despite exhausting all laid-down legal and procedural requirements,” the union said.
TEWU’s petition lists several immediate actions:
- Signing of a long-delayed Conditions of Service agreement.
- Inclusion of non-teaching GES staff in the September Continuous Professional Development Allowance.
- Resolution of long-running promotion grievances.
- Swift intervention by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to complete outstanding salary agreements.
The union warned that any attempt at intimidation or obstruction would constitute “unfair labour practices.”
“We have exercised patience and restraint. We have followed due process and exhausted all legal requirements under the Labour Act of Ghana. The responsibility for the disruption of industrial peace in the education sector rests squarely with Government and its agencies,” the statement declared.
The strike is expected to cripple administrative, security, library and support services in schools, universities and cultural institutions nationwide, adding to pressures already faced by the education system.
Notices of the action have been copied to the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour, GES, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, and the National Labour Commission, with TEWU urging employers to respect the lawful decision of non-teaching staff.
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