W/R TEWU begins indefinite strike

Sekondi, May 30, GNA - Members of the Western Regional Branch of the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) on Tuesday began an indefinite strike action, to back their demands for the review of salaries and payment of all outstanding allowances.

The National Executive Council of TEWU called the strike after it's meeting on May 11, 2006 in Accra.

The Council in a resolution a few weeks ago had stated among others that if by may 29, 2006 no action has been taken on their outstanding salary review, end of service benefit, risk and responsibility allowances, they would embark on indefinite strike.

It said the Ghana Education Service Management had become uncooperative with the leadership and members of TEWU, the abandoning of the negotiation table by the GES management coupled with the disregard for the numerous complaints of TEWU, had compelled them to embark on their action. Mr Dan Ayim Antwi, General Secretary and Alhaji H. I. Kambasi, National Chairman of TEWU signed the resolution.

Addressing the workers, Mr Ebenezer C. Blankson, Chairman of the National Executive Council of TEWU supported by Mr Joseph Donkor, TEWU Regional Industrial Relations Officer (RIRO) told the workers that the action had become necessary, since negotiations and calls for the payment of all monies due them since 2001 had fallen on deaf ears. They said this had also delayed the implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for members of the union.