Teachers agitate for improved conditions of service

There is frustration and tension among the ranks and file of members of the Teacher and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) due to the inability of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to address their grievances.

Mr Dan Ayim Antwi, General Secretary of TEWU, who made this known on Tuesday at the Western Regional delegates conference, mentioned salary distortions and disparities, non-promotion of administrative personnel and the refusal of management to negotiate collective bargaining agreement proposals as issues that required attention.

Others were non-implementation of the scheme of the GES, irregular refund of medical expenses and irregular payment of negotiated allowances.

He said the GES was adamant in resolving these problems despite several reminders and cautions by the union.

Mr Antwi said the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals would meet TEWU to negotiate the collective bargaining agreement and salary proposals while the management of the Ghana Library Board was seeking funds from government to implement a newly prepared salary structure.

He said the conference of Polytechnic Principals would also meet with the Union to consider a proposed salary structure.

Mrs Rebecca Dadzie, Deputy Western Regional Director of Education, said some non-teaching staff did not know their roles resulting in tension and instability in offices and institutions of the GES.

She suggested that there should be periodic interactions between teachers and non-teaching staff of the GES to reverse the trend.

Mrs Dadzie said promotion of workers was now based on efficiency, ability to deliver and one's contribution towards the effective running of offices and institutions.

The Reverend Daniel Nyarko, Vice Principal of Takoradi Polytechnic, said management and employees of the GES must develop team spirit to ensure quality education.

He also stressed the need for cordial relationship between the management of educational institutions and TEWU to ensure industrial harmony.