The Minister for Labour Jobs and Employment, Dr Rashid Pelpuo has assured the strking members of the Teachers and Educational Workers Unions (TEWU) that his outfit is working to address their concerns.
He has therefore reiterated his plea to them to call off their strike which commenced on September 19.
Speaking in an interview with Keminni Amanor on Ghana Tonight on September 19, Dr Pelpuo said, “i had a meeting with them and pleaded for them to call off the strike. However, they mentioned that they want some firm commitments from government. We are in the process of addressing these concerns.”
According to him, their industrial action has far-reaching implication, thus must not continue any further.
Members of TEWU embarked on the strike to press home their demands for better conditions of service.
TEWU says the strike, which takes immediate effect, is aimed at compelling the government and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to conclude and sign their long-outstanding conditions of service.
Speaking at a news conference in Accra, General Secretary of TEWU, King James Azortibah, stressed that the timing of the strike is not meant to disrupt the academic calendar but to draw attention to the prolonged neglect of workers’ concerns.
“We are not embarking on this strike because the first years are now going to school,” Azortibah explained. “We want the government and the Fair Wages [Commission] to hearken to our demands — because we are also parents.”
He described the strike as a constitutional right, insisting that union members have exercised patience for far too long.
“Our conditions of service, which are our right as enshrined in the Constitution and the Labour Act 651 of 2003, remain unresolved,” he said. “TEWU has shown commitment to dialogue with our social partners. Unfortunately, the issues affecting our members remain unresolved, and promises made to us have been left unfulfilled. We see this as discrimination and unfair labour practice, which will not be tolerated.”
Mr Azortibah who was also on the Ghana Tonight programme, restated their resolve to continue the strike until some concrete steps are taken in resolving their grievances.
“We had a fruitful meeting with the Minister earlier in the day and we are aware of the steps he is taking, once our issues are addressed, leadership will act accordingly,” he said.
Earlier, the National Labour Commission (NLC) summoned the Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and Mr Azortibah to appear before it to discuss circumstances leading to the ongoing strike.
The NLC therefore asked the leadership of TEWU to suspend the strike action.
“The National Labour Commission in exercise of its powers under section 139 of the Labour Act, (2003), Act 651 writes to summon the parties herein addressed or their mandated representatives to appear before the Commission on Wednesday, 1st October, 2025 at 2:00pm for a hearing of the issues in dispute,” a letter sighted by 3news indicated.
The letter signed by the Ag. Executive Secretary added, “With this intervention and in pursuance of Section 161 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) the Union is hereby directed to call off the ongoing strike and appear as scheduled. Furthermore, the Respondent institutions and Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) are directed to engage the Union and submit a report to the Commission on the status of their engagement by close of day, 3rd October, 2025.”
However, Mr Azortibah said they have not been officially notified of the meeting.
“We have not been invited. We are hearing the news in the media, but no formal invitation has been extended to us,” he said.
When asked if they will honour the NLC’s invitation, he answered in the affirmative.
“Why not? If that is the avenue through which our concerns will be addressed, we will attend. We have been working together as stakeholders, so will attend, ” Mr Azortibah indicated.
