Regional News of Wednesday, 24 May 2006

Source: GNA

Ho Poly TEWU members on indefinite strike

Ho, May 24, GNA - The Ho Polytechnic local union of the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC) on Wednesday embarked on an indefinite sit-down strike to register their displeasure on the stalled negotiations of the review of their salaries and conditions of service.

This came to light when the Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited the Polytechnic campus around 0930 hours and found members of the Union clad in red bands and moving about in groups.

Only few people who were said to be part of the Polytechnic Administrators Association of Ghana (PAAG) were seen doing some administrative work.

In an interview, Mr Anthony Nyalemegbe, Chairman of Central Executive Committee of the Ho Polytechnic Local Union (CECPLU) told the He said members would come to work regularly but would not work and could leave the office by 1200 hours until government did something about their situation.

Later the GNA was privy to a resolution signed by Mr Ayim Antwi, General Secretary, TEWU of TUC, Mr Mcllinus Djata Atieku, Secretary (CECPLU) and Mr Nyalemegbe.

The resolution stated that by the close of work on Tuesday, May 23 2006, the Union would advise itself if government failed to make it possible to resume negotiations for the Union's conditions of service.

It recalled that though the Union's Unified Conditions of Service expired in January 2004, government had refused to renew a mandate to the Conference of Polytechnic Principals (COPP) to conclude negotiations with the Union.

The resolution noted that the situation was frustrating its members who could no longer be persuaded to exercise patience.