Accra – The Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) has declared an indefinite nationwide strike over what it describes as government’s persistent delay in concluding negotiations and renewing conditions of service for its members across public and technical universities, the Ghana Education Service (GES), the Ghana Library Authority, and the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the forecourt of the University of Ghana, TEWU’s National Chairperson, Ramatu Braimah, emphasized that the union’s decision is not politically motivated but rather a legitimate demand for workers’ rights.
“We are unionists, not politicians. Our only interest is the welfare of our members. Successive governments have failed to renew our conditions of service, some of which have been expired since 2008. Enough is enough,” she said.
According to TEWU, the union suspended an earlier strike in November 2024 at the directive of the National Labour Commission (NLC) to allow negotiations to proceed. A January 2025 deadline set by the NLC was later extended at the request of the new administration. However, despite repeated engagements, including a July 2025 meeting with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), negotiations failed to materialize.
On September 5, 2025, TEWU issued a formal strike notice after FWSC failed to meet an August 28 deadline. The NLC subsequently directed FWSC to respond within seven days, but no action was taken. Consequently, on September 19, 2025, TEWU declared an indefinite strike.
Braimah disclosed that although the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations intervened immediately after the strike was declared, the union refused to suspend the action without concrete commitments.
“This strike is legal, justified, and binding under the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651). We will only suspend it when FWSC, with the mandate of the Ministry of Finance and relevant authorities, concludes and signs our conditions of service,” she stressed.
TEWU has directed all its members nationwide to stay at home until further notice, insisting that they cannot continue working under expired conditions of service.
Story by Eugene Kwasi Nyarko
