Three Tertiary Education Unions are threatening to lay down their tools by June 30, 2024, over what they describe as their exclusion from the upward adjustments of Vehicle Maintenance and other allowances.

They comprise The Tertiary Education Workers Union of Ghana (TEWU-GH) The Technical University Administrators Association of Ghana (TUAAG) and The Technical University Workers Association, Ghana (TUWAG)

They are accusing the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) of adjusting Vehicle Maintenance Allowances and other classified allowances for other categories of staff in tertiary institutions, excluding their members.

The leadership of the unions insists on the practice of adjusting such allowances for staff of universities, which has always been across the board.

They contend the anomaly is “clearly discriminatory and unfair in the working environment on university campuses.”

Read Full Statement below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALL MEDIA HOUSES

Dear Sir/Madam,

INTENTION TO EMBACK ON AN INDUSTRIAL STRIKE ACTION

The leadership of the Tertiary Education Workers Union of Ghana (TEWU-GH) The Technical University Administrators Association of Ghana (TUAAG) and The Technical University Workers Association, Ghana (TUWAG), wish to state irrevocably that the discriminatory implementation of the newly approved Vehicle Maintenance Allowance (VMA) and other related allowances by government must be reconsidered immediately.

The decision by Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to exclude TEWU-GH, TUAAG and TUWAG members of the implementation of the upwards review of the (VMA) is clear discriminatory and injustice in the working environment in the university campuses.

These situations have made TEWU-GH, TUAAG and TUWAG members in the university campuses very unhappy in the face of the current economic conditions in the nation, we call on the Employer to URGENTLY address the issue as soon as possible to avert any unforeseen problems.

Vehicle Maintenance Allowance (VMA) and other related allowances in the public Universities are payable to all eligible categories of staff in the Universities.

The (VMA) rate is always the same and it applies to all category of staff in the universities with a common effective date without any discrimination. This has been the practice since the inception of these particular allowances.

The three unions TEWU-GH, TUAAG and TUWAG urges Government and all stakeholders to use this opportunity to swiftly address the legitimate concerns raised to avoid any disturbances in the university campuses.

Failure to resolve the above-mentioned issues by 30th of June,2024, we will invoke the relevant provision of the labour Act to advice ourselves.

Signed:

SULEMANA ABDUL-RAHMAN; TEWU_GH NATIONAL CHAIRMAN (0244147482)

Godwin Kumador; Secretary TUAAG (0245010240)

Ayárik Alateng John ;National President TUWAG (0242336582)

CC:

1. Hon. Minister, Ministry of Education

2. Hon. Minister, Ministry of Finance

3. Hon. Minister, Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations

4. The Chief Executive Officer, Fair Wages and Salaries Commission

5. Director General, Ghana Tertiary Education Commission

6. The Chairman, VCG

7. The Chairman, VCTU-G

8. The Executive Secretary, National Labour Commission