The Tertiary Education Workers Union of Ghana (TEWUG) has announced a nationwide strike set to commence on 1 February 2024.
The decision to strike stems from the government’s failure to address crucial concerns affecting the union’s members. TEWUG cites the employer’s reluctance to attend to their welfare needs, including tier-two pension funds, vehicle maintenance allowance, and overtime allowance, among other pressing issues.
In solidarity, TEWUG will join forces with the Ghana Association of University Administrators, the Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana, and the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU-TUC) in the collective pursuit of addressing their grievances.
The impact of the strike is expected to affect essential services within tertiary institutions, such as environmental cleaning, classroom setup for teaching and learning, security services, and hospital services, among others.
“National Executive Council of TEWU held an emergency meeting this morning today, 31 January 2024, concerning the issue”, stated Sulemana Abdul-Rahman, the national chairman of TEWU at a press conference on Wednesday (31 January).
“In the said meeting, NEC has resolved that following the lackadaisical nature of the employer, thus, the government of Ghana to address the challenges and problems of TEWUG members in the traditional universities, TEWUG hereby declares an indefinite strike and the strike takes effect 1st February, which will be Thursday until further notice.”
School closure
The industrial action by various unions have sparked fears of an academic disruption in various public universities.
Already the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has closed down its basic school due to the ongoing strike.
A statement issued by the KNUST on Monday (29 January) says the closure will take effect from Tuesday 30 January.
“Following the declaration of industrial action by the Teachers and Educational Workers Union of the Trades Union Congress (TEWU-TUC), Senior Staff Association -Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG), and the Ghana Association of University Administrators.”
“I write to inform the University Community and the general public that the KNUST Basic School is being closed down, effective Tuesday 30 January 2024 until further notice,” the statement said.
Reporting by Jonathan Ofori, KNUST, Ashanti Region
