GES asked to conclude negotiations with TEWU

Accra, Jan. 24, GNA- The Teachers Educational Workers Union (TEWU) on Wednesday appealed to the National Labour Commission (NLC), to prompt the Ghana Education Service (GES) to take pre-emptive measures to avoid an industrial action by members of the Union.

Mr Dan Ayim Antwi, General Secretary of TEWU, who made the appeal said there was the need for GES to conclude the Collective Bargaining Agreement the Union was bargaining for, when the last agreement expired in 2001 to avoid an industrial action.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, he accused the GES for dragging its feet on the issue.

Mr Ayim said following a directive from the NLC in November 2, 2006, TEWU and GES met on the issue at a snail pace.

He said as a result TEWU gave the GES a seven- day ultimatum which led to meeting between the two parties on Tuesday January 23, 2007. Mr Ayim alleged that GES Management was not represented at the meeting, adding: 93The unfortunate situation amounts to total disregard to processes towards negotiations."

"We have in a letter reported the conduct of the GES Management to NLC with the expectation that it would use its constitutional powers to direct the GES to see to the conclusions of the CBA in order to prevent industrial action," he said.