AS Ghana joins the rest of the World to mark this year's International Workers Day, the Teachers and Workers Education Workers Union, (TEWU) and the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) have sent solidarity messages on their expectations.General Secretary of TEWU GHANA, King James Azortibah, called for the swift finalization of all outstanding negotiations to avoid agitation and ensure industrial harmony.Mr Morgan Ayawine, General Secretary, ICU,He called for the urgent need to recruit additional staff, especially kitchen and security personnel, particularly in Senior High Schools since the current workforce was overstretched which was impacting service delivery."We demand that workplace safety and health standards be prioritized.
It is unacceptable that in 21st-century Ghana, some of our members continue to work under substandard and hazardous conditions," he added.Mr Azortibah indicated that both teaching and non-teaching staff are essential pillars of the education sector emphasizing that authorities must end the neglect of non-teaching staff and place their welfare and professional development at the forefront of policy planning not as an afterthought.He called on the government to pursue prudent economic policies that promote sustainable growth for the benefit of all Ghanaians, whether in the formal or informal sectors.The TEWU General Secretary also called on the Controller and Accountant-General's Department to immediately halt the unauthorized deductions made under the guise of "retro net offset."He said these deductions were often carried out without prior engagement with affected members or the appropriate agencies."The practice of replacing heads of public sector institutions with every change of government must stop saying such frequent changes disrupt continuity, demoralize staff, and undermine institutional growth.
Career public servants should be given the opportunity to rise based on merit rather than political considerations," he added.The General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers' Union (ICU), Ghana, Morgan Ayawine on his part said as workers, they must realize the essence of time, and that whatever service needed to render for the economic growth and development of mother Ghana, should be so consciously and with alacrity, so as to meet timelines and achieve set targets.He said it was always important to leverage the opportunity we have as workers, for the full realization of the purpose of trade union existence and capacity building that can stand the test of time.Mr Ayawine indicated that equally, employers are obligated to "play the game by the rule" and ensure that workers were treated fairly in accordance with the dictates of the Collective Agreement and the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), and not be short-changed.He said workers must be given their fair share of the wealth they have contributed in creating, in terms of optimum wages/salaries and other benefits they are entitled to, without foot-dragging or any scheming to deprive them of what is rightfully due them."We should therefore not take this dispensation for granted, but uphold it, and continue to accentuate the rights of workers in this regard, in the mutual relationship with Employers and other stakeholders.'' BY TIMES REPORTER
