Labour unions, TUC teamed up against aggrieved public sector workers
![Pay teachers legacy arrears now is the call from over 5000 teachers who are owed salary arrears. Teachers whose legacy arrears remain unpaid have been angered by the reluctance of the GES and government to pay outstanding salaries owed teachers from 2012 to 2016. Over 5000 teachers whose arrears remain unpaid have angrily asked the GES, Ministry of Education and the Controller and Accountant General Department to make good the debt owed teachers. The salaries locked up are earnings of teachers for work done and government must not only speak of its intentions to pay but must be seen acting in that regard. In a petition signed by the leadership of the aggrieved teachers, and copied to Ghanaeducation.org, indicated that the three months pay audit practice at the time the arrears accumulated was aimed at auditing all claims put forth by the Inter-personal and Database (IPPD) coordinators. This process according to the aggrieved teachers was to authenticate the claims made. The process per the statement aimed at dealing with payroll corruption where IPPDs submitted ghost names for salaries. It, therefore, took a long time to get the salaries paid, leading to the government delaying in paying the first three months of salaries leading to several months of arrears Teachers whose salaries have remained in arrears and part of the petitioners are disappointed in the government because they were promised the outstanding teachers legacy areas would be paid in January 2021 but nothing happened to date. Read: Teacher impregnates three girls in same class at KEEA District The government has promised to pay arrears for a little over 2500 affected teachers in October and November 2021. Teachers are only hoping this new promise will not be a carbon copy of what has been happening all this while. The petition said the government’s promise to pay the rest of the affected teachers in January 2021 did not materialize. READ: Teacher Kwadwo Summoned by GES Over Professional Misconduct Nana Opoku Foster said the executives of the Association had a meeting with the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and other government appointees, where they were told the 2,550 affected teachers would be paid at the end of October and November 2021. Labour unions, TUC teamed up against the Coalition Public Workers :Pay teachers legacy arrears](https://ghanaeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Pay-teachers-legacy-arrears.jpg)
A DARK DAY FOR GHANAIAN PUBLIC WORKERS
I can’t actually believe what I heard today from the grapevine and I have therefore come to the harsh conclusion that most of our labour union Leaders are in for their selfish parochial gains but not for the greater good of the ordinary dues payer.
Aggrieved public sector workers, Labour unions and TUC.
Yesterday, a meeting was supposed to be called by the TUC to listen to the Aggrieved Workers who felt the 4% increment in salary was not a good bargain.
Instead of the Representatives of the Teacher Unions and the leaders of the Aggrieved Workers working in unity to press our demands home, the Labour unions led by the TUC rather teamed up against the Coalition that is trying to ensure that a fair bargain is gotten for the entire public workforce in Ghana.
Before the meeting begun, it was alleged that everyone was asked to introduce themselves. That is when the “Elimination by Rough Tactics” begun. The representatives of the Aggrieved Public Sector Workers were sadly asked to step out. As some of the remaining Reps were sitting on torns and equally downhearted, a woman walked to the High Table and demanded that another Union Leader be asked to walk out!. A reliable source identified this “anti-development fellow” as the President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA).
How could a “Freedom Fighter” seeks the sacking of yet another “Freedom Fighter” representing yet another Nurses Union (UPNMG) to move out from such a crucial platform where their major challenges could be addressed as an Association? Our leaders are our problem; not the employer. We get the leaders we deserve!.
The Representative for Medical Laboratory Professional Workers’ Union – MELPWU, reported by an insider, was also asked to move out as well. The explanation given to this cruel act was that, only the unions who bargained for the 4% were supposed to take part in the meeting.
So I asked myself again, how is it possible for those who didn’t see anything wrong with the 4% to meet without any neutral brains to discuss this anomaly? Obviously workers in Ghana have been sold out for peanuts!
It disheartening to see young union leaders willing to fight a good course walk out with frustration written all over their faces because they felt they have disappointed their grassroots voiceless and disgruntled members.
Until these selfish and stomach union leaders are smoked out, workers in Ghana will continue to be treated as non-citizens.
READ: Teacher Kwadwo condemns teacher unions over loans to teachers
As a teacher who has worked for over 13 years in Ghana, I feel cheated, dehumanised and unfairly treated.
I pray that something positive comes out of this meeting. The darkness of the night shall never remain forever. There’s light at the end of the tunnel.
ALSO READ: Free SHS cost Ghana GH¢7.62bn in 5 years — Ofori-Atta
I come in peace. Shalom.😊🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Depressed Sympathizer of the Aggrieved Public Sector Workers Lamentations!😢