The National Labour Commission (NLC) is scheduled to meet members of the Teachers and Educational Workers Union of Ghana (TEWU-Ghana) today, following an ongoing strike action that has disrupted operations across several universities in the country.
TEWU-Ghana, a relatively new union in the educational sector, is protesting its exclusion from university councils, arguing that its growing membership base gives it a legitimate right to represent educational workers at the highest decision-making levels.
The union contends that it now commands a larger following than the long-established Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) and should therefore be given representation accordingly.
Labour consultant Austin Gameh has described the strike as surprising and avoidable, stating that the issue at hand does not warrant industrial action.
“This is not a strikeable issue,” he told Joy News during an interview. “The law is very clear about how unions can seek representation. TEWU-Ghana should have simply gone through the verification and bargaining processes outlined in the Labour Act.”
Mr. Gameh explained that Ghana’s Constitution and labour laws allow multiple unions to exist within an institution, and clearly define how the leading union, usually the one with the largest membership can be selected through official verification and registration processes.
He further emphasized that the Chief Labour Officer has the mandate to oversee such verification and ensure transparency.
Responding to claims by TEWU-Ghana that the Trade Union Congress (TUC) is stalling the verification process, Mr. Gameh noted, “If any party refuses to participate, the Chief Labour Officer still has the authority to proceed and submit a report to the Labour Commission, whose decision is binding.”
The strike has drawn criticism from labour experts who believe the union could have resolved the issue through dialogue and legal means.
Former Executive Secretary of the National Labour Commission, Ofosu Asamoah, weighed in, expressing confidence that today’s meeting will help de-escalate tensions.
“This should not have escalated to a strike,” Mr. Asamoah said. “The Labour Commission has the capacity and mandate to resolve this in accordance with the law. We expect a peaceful and lawful resolution after today’s deliberations.”
Meanwhile, educational institutions across the country are grappling with the impact of the strike, with some administrative and academic activities partially halted.
The outcome of today’s meeting will be crucial in determining whether TOGH resumes work or continues its industrial action. Stakeholders, including students, administrators, and other unions, will be watching closely.
Read More @ ATLFMNEWS.COM
