Accra, Feb. 23, GNA - The Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) of the Trades Union Congress on Friday commended the government for granting the Vice Chancellors of Ghana (VCG) the mandate to negotiate with the union.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra, Mr Daniel Ayim Antwi, the General Secretary of the union, said in accordance with the mandate the VCG has invited the union to begin negotiation on "salary levels for 2008 for TEWU and the Federation of Universities Senior Staff Association (FUSSAG)".

He said the union would not accept 10 per cent increase as being rumoured in view of the 30 per cent increases in utility services. Mr Antwi said any increase should be commensurate with rising prices, adding, "We hope by the middle of March we would have completed negotiations for all our members".