Accra, Jan 27, GNA - The Central Executive Committee of Polytechnic Local Union (CECPLU) of the Teachers and Educational Workers' Union (TEWU) said on Friday that if by Friday, February 03, the government has not made it possible for negotiations to commence a new Collective Bargaining agreement "we will deem it fit to advise ourselves". It therefore urged the government to grant mandate to the Conference of Polytechnic Principals "without further delay to enable us to commence negotiation".

In a resolution the Union said there had been persistent refusal by the government to grant mandate to the Conference of Polytechnic Principals (COOP) to negotiate the agreement which expired in January last year.

It said the silence has caused frustration and recalled other resolutions made including those to COOP and the Minister of Manpower, Youth and Development that had fallen on death ears. As a result, the resolution said, tension is building up among the rank and file on the various polytechnic campuses.

Mr Dan Antwi, the General Secretary of TEWU, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that efforts have been made to get the mandate but that yielded no results.

He said he saw no reason why the Ghana Education Service (GES), the universities and the West African Examination Council (WAEC) have been given the mandate leaving out their sister union (CECPLU). Mr Antwi added, "on three occasions the authorities promised to do something about it but nothing has been done."