The Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) has called on its members across the country to withdraw their services from today, Wednesday, January 5, 2022, over their unpaid professional development allowances.
Addressing the media, the General Secretary of the Union, Mark Dankyira Korankye disclosed that all their members, both in the schools, district, and regional offices are going to withdraw their services until an amicable settlement is reached.
According to him, if the government had been proactive about the Union’s concerns they would not have embarked on strike action.
“If the government had come to the table in 2019 we would have finished negotiating the conditions of service and signed it. So that it becomes an implementing document for us to operate with. We are in January 2022. 18 months have passed and we still have not been able to finally agree on all the provisions that we proposed for a change,” the Secretary disclosed.
He continued “We think the feet dragging and the delay is becoming too much. Until the government sits with us to review the condition of service in total and also to attend to our needs that we have put across. As far as our unpaid allowances are concerned we are going to lay down our tools.”
The Union members in the schools include accountants, auditors, administrators, bursars, cooks, cleaners among others.
Mr. Dankyira Korankye expressed worry why the government has been adamant with their concerns and the Union has to take such an action.
“It was resolved, among others that if by the close of the year 2021. If the professional development allowances had not been paid to the non-teaching staff of the Ghana Education Service, then as schools reopen for the last phase of the second semester, our members would withdraw their services. To push home our demand of the payment of this professional development allowances,” he explained.
