Don’t see labour as afterthought in decision-making - TEWU to govt

The Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) has urged the government not to see labour as an afterthought when making major socio-economic policy decisions.

This includes a review of the free senior high school programme, the 1992 Constitution, Ghana-IMF agreements among others.

“Labour’s input must be sought and seriously factored into any such future reviews because the cumulative negative effect is borne by Ghanaian workers both in the formal and informal sectors.

“Let us remember that every voice in our country matters and every effort we make together must strengthen and accelerate the national progress,” a New Year’s Message signed by the General Secretary, King James Azorbitah, said.

Embrace

It said the union expected both labour and the government to embrace the promise of a New Year filled with potential for growth and hope for a future, where fairness prevailed and continued to fight for the rights and dignity of every Ghanaian worker.

The union, it said without doubt, appreciated the resilience and determination of Ghanaian workers in challenging times over the past years and was convinced that they would continue exhibiting such patriotic qualities and give their best to inspire hope for a brighter future for the country.

“There is no doubt that Ghanaian workers have always given their best under trying conditions, but these sacrifices do not get the commensurate rewards from successive governments. We hope this time around, under the new NDC government, the story will be different where such sacrifices will go with the appropriate rewards for the mutual benefit of all citizens,” it said.

Spirit

In the spirit of the New Year, TEWU reminded all social partners of the sacrifices of those who paved the way for the rights and the dignity members enjoy today in their workplaces and must guard the positive outcomes of their sweat, sacrifices and devotion to duty, which were legacies worth protecting.

“We are firmly opposing discrimination and unfair labour practices of any sort which we will fiercely resist. The fight for equity and dignity of work is a charge that we must uphold to ensure a better future for generations to come,” it said.

The message congratulated the new government, particularly the President, John Dramani Mahama and the Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on their assumption of power after the December election and that “it is the hope of TEWU of TUC (Ghana) that the new government will not betray the trust of citizens who voted overwhelmingly for change in the political leadership on December 7, 2024”.

In the view of TEWU, it said the overwhelming vote for the NDC meant  citizens, including labour unions, wanted things to be done differently.

“We expect constructive dialogue and engagement to be the catchphrase for labour and government relations,” it said.

Emergency

TEWU, it said, had some emergency pending issues with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) in relation to the delayed conclusion and implementation of reviewed conditions of service for the members of the Ghana Education Service (GES), the Ghana Museums And Monuments Board (GMMB), the Ghana Library Authority (GhLA), as well as public and technical universities.

“It must be noted that TEWU of TUC (Ghana), was compelled to activate a nationwide strike in November 2024 and have to suspend it with the assurance that the FWSC will expedite action on the affected institutions.

“It is instructive for the government to note that on the issues of negotiations on the reviewed conditions of service, most of them just need signing off for implementation.

We hope the delay tactics exhibited by some state agencies in the recent past will not be entertained by the new government,” it said.

In this New Year and with a new government in place, TEWU believed a speedy conclusion to the negotiations on conditions of service of the affected institutions would make it possible for the necessary financial commitments to be captured in the maiden budget of the government for immediate implementation.

“The gift we want from the new government for our members, in respect of the above-mentioned institutions is to ensure the timeous and speedy conclusion of negotiations on the long overdue reviewed conditions of service for them,” It emphasised.