TEWU, Poly Rectors on collision course

15-09-09


THE Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) is on a collision course with the Conference of Rectors of Polytechnics (CORP) over the stalled negotiations on the review of the union’s unified conditions of service.
According to TEWU, its unified conditions of service expired in December 2007 and that efforts to address the problem had not been successful.
The General Secretary of TEWU, Mr Dan Ayim Antwi, told the Daily Graphic that a 14-day ultimatum given to the CORP for the re-opening of negotiations expired last Friday.
Consequently, he said, the union would write to the National Labour Commission (NLC) to direct the Conference of Rectors of Polytechnics (CORPs) to re-open negotiations for the review of its unified conditions of service.
He said the union had all along adopted the process of dialogue to ensure industrial harmony and would continue to use that strategy.
Mr Antwi said the CORP on July 16, 2009, promised the union that it would intensify its efforts to secure a mandate for negotiations, saying that “regrettably five weeks have elapsed without the two sides returning to the negotiation table”.
Following the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum given TEWU, the CORP in a letter dated August 31, 2009, pleaded for more time from the union to seek a mandate from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare.
“The Conference of Rectors of Polytechnics appreciate your patience on this matter and plead that you give us more time to seek mandate from the ministries for negotiation,” a letter signed by Dr F. Addo-Yobo, for the Chairman of CORP to the General Secretary of TEWU said.
Mr Antwi expressed the hope that the NLC would intervene in the matter to ensure peace on the campuses of the various polytechnics.
He said the last time TEWU met the CORP was on October 23 at which TEWU requested for deferment of negotiations on all items submitted except overtime, warm clothing, furniture loan, salary advance and medical care.
He said the TEWU would continue to use the process of dialogue, hence its decision to go to the NLC.