Kumasi, June 21, GNA - Members of the Kumasi Polytechnic branch of the Polytechnic Administrators Association of Ghana (PAAG) have decided to stay away from work in protest of the insanitary conditions at the campus.

A statement issued in Kumasi and signed by Mr Francis A. Austin, Local branch Chairman on Tuesday, said the insanitary situation brought about by the strike action of members of Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), had now become unbearable and posed serious threat to the health of the members.

"It has led to heaps of filth engulfing our offices and surroundings, thereby causing serious health hazards to members of PAAG who are currently holding the fort," it stressed. According to the statement, the decision that took effect from Monday June 19 would remain in force until the situation returned to normal.

It urged Government to adopt a holistic approach in resolving the issue of salaries and conditions of service for all the three workers' groups namely PAAG, POTAG and TEWU in the country's polytechnics. The statement said since October 2001 when a two-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the Polytechnic Councils and PAAG expired, PAAG had never been granted the opportunity to negotiate for enhanced salaries and better conditions of service.

It said PAAG members had refused to embark on strike action since that would halt administrative activities on polytechnic campuses, since its members were found in all the essential services in the polytechnics.

The statement stressed the need for Government to resolve the issue of salaries and conditions of service for all the three bodies without further delay to ensure industrial peace and smooth academic work.