Accra, Jan 31, GNA - Mr Dan Antwi, the General Secretary of the Teachers and Educational Worker's Union (TEWU), has appealed to the government to address the "unfair treatment to its members within the polytechnic local unions".

He told the GNA in an interview that he saw no justification for the refusal of mandate to the Conference of Polytechnic Principals' (COPP) to begin negotiations with TEWU on the Collective Bargaining Agreement that expired since January 24, 2004.

Mr Antwi said what was disturbing was the fact that mandate had been given to the Ghana Education Service, the universities and the West Africa Examination Council whose employees are members of TEWU, leaving the polytechnics out.

He said TEWU pressed for the mandate in respect of all since 2003 but surprisingly no reason had been assigned for the exclusion of the Polytechnics.

Meanwhile, a resolution adopted by the Central Executive Committee of Polytechnic Local Unions said that the government should grant the mandate without further delay. "If by the close of work on Friday, February 03 the government has not made it possible for negotiations to commence, we will deem it fit to advise ourselves".