The Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union, (TEWU) of Trade Union Congress (TUC) has warned government that nonpayment of Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) will destabilize the education sector.
In a statement signed by the General Secretary of TEWU-TUC, Mark D. Korankye, bemoaned the lackadaisical attitude of government to their demand.
“We wish to state that members have reached their limit in the face of the excruciating economic conditions in the country and cannot wait any longer. Failure to respond positively to this call, the country’s educational sector stand to suffer and that will have a damming effect on the final years of the Senior High Schools in their preparations towards final examinations.
“The leadership of TEWU of TUC (GH) want to put it on record that it has made frantic appeals to government since September 2021, as well as early this year and even before the 2022 May Day national celebrations, that the skyrocketing prices of goods and services, calls for the authorities to pay COLA to workers, to enable them to cope with the challenging economic conditions,” Mr. Korankye stated.
He continued: “Unfortunately, these appeals have not received any positive response, not even an acknowledgement of the Union appeals by government, especially the sector minister, that is, the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations.”
Below is the full statement
TEACHERS AND EDUCATIONAL WORKERS UNION, TEWU OF TUC-GHANA, CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO COME CLEAR ON THE PAYMENT OF COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE (COLA), TO CUSHION MEMBERS AGAINST THE EXCRUCIATING ECONOMIC SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY
We therefore urge government that the earlier it respond positively to this COLA demand, the better it will be for the Country in our education sector.
Please government pay workers COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE (COLA), to prevent any turbulence on the labour front, because living condition are deterioration by the day.
Issued for and on behalf of the National Leadership
Mark D. Korankye
General Secretary, TEWU of TUC (Ghana)