The Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Ghana, has declared an indefinite nationwide strike effective today, in protest against what it describes as years of unfair labour practices, neglect, and discrimination against non-teaching staff in the country’s education sector.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, TEWU General Secretary, King James Azortibah, said members across public universities, technical universities, the Ghana Education Service (GES), the Ghana Library Authority, and the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board had been directed to withdraw their services until further notice.
“For far too long, the contributions of non-teaching staff to the smooth running of the educational system in this country have been taken for granted. We clean classrooms, cook for students, secure campuses, and provide indispensable administrative support, yet our welfare and conditions of service are constantly sidelined,” Mr Azortibah declared.
He stressed that while conditions of service for teachers and senior staff have been signed and implemented, those of junior and non-teaching staff remain unresolved despite years of dialogue.
TEWU is demanding the immediate signing of conditions of service for non-teaching staff in all public universities, technical universities, and the Ghana Education Service. The union also wants inclusion in the payment of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) allowances, settlement of arrears for professional development allowances, payment of overtime and holiday allowances for security and catering staff, and equal treatment in promotions and transfers across the education sector.
Mr Azortibah accused the government of discriminatory practices in labour relations.
“If this is not discrimination, then what is it? You cannot sign the conditions of service for over 350,000 teachers while ignoring 15,000 non-teaching staff who work alongside them every day. Our silence has been mistaken for weakness, but enough is enough,” he stated.
The union warned that the strike would disrupt operations at schools and universities nationwide, especially as senior high schools prepare to admit new students.
“If campuses are dirty, libraries closed, laboratories unattended, and no meals are prepared, learning cannot take place. That is the weight of the work we do,” the General Secretary added.
TEWU called on the Ministry of Education, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, and all relevant stakeholders to address their concerns without delay.
Until then, all TEWU members have been instructed to stay away from work.