Austin Gamey, a labour consultant, has said the strike initiated by the Tertiary Education Workers Union of Ghana (TEWU) might be the first of many unions to initiate strikes this year.
The TEWUG, in solidarity with the Ghana Association of University Administrators, the Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana, and the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU-TUC), has declared a nationwide strike effective 1 February 2024.
This action stems from the government’s perceived negligence in addressing crucial concerns raised by the unions.
Speaking on the Big Bulletin on Wednesday (31 January), Gamey emphasised that his extensive experience in labour issues has made him aware of the simmering discontent among various unions regarding financial matters.
“Because of the work we do, our nose smells all these types of things…we are aware that many other unions are concerned about some indebtedness this way or the other.”
The unions are citing the employer’s failure to address their welfare needs, including tier-two pension funds, vehicle maintenance allowance, and overtime allowance, among others.
Gamey’s warning to the employer is clear: “So it’s for the employer, especially its human resource management systems, to be activated to ensure that they are very frontal in dealing with the issues so that others do not say that they will have to wait and then cash in.”
According to the labour consultant, “They will join … and to handle it is beyond description because the National Labour Commission will be overwhelmed, and the consequences are very dire.”
The nationwide strike is expected to have a profound impact on essential services within tertiary institutions.
Services such as environmental cleaning, classroom setup for teaching and learning, security services and hospital services are likely to be severely affected.
Reporting by Leroy Hawkson in Accra
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