TEWU declares strike over union representation in public universities

The Tertiary Education Workers Union of Ghana (TEWU-GH) has declared an indefinite strike, effective today, following the expiry of a seven-day ultimatum issued to relevant authorities on June 24.

The strike responds to what TEWU-GH describes as the “egregious and unjustifiable” recognition of the minority union, TEWU-TUC, as the official workers’ representative on the Governing Councils of Traditional Public Universities, a decision that disregards TEWU-GH’s majority membership and legitimate claim to representation.

In a strongly worded statement, TEWU-GH condemned the move, highlighting the authorities’ failure to provide any satisfactory explanation or resolution.

The union cited the decision of “blatantly disregarding democratic principles and the rights of the majority union”, prompting them to take “drastic and immediate action” to uphold fairness, transparency, and democracy in tertiary education governance.

The union’s demands remain clear and non-negotiable:

• The immediate and unconditional withdrawal of TEWU-TUC’s appointment as workers’ representative on university governing councils.
• An urgent directive from the Ministers of Labour, Jobs and Employment and Education for the Chief Labour Officer to verify which union — TEWU-GH or TEWU-TUC — truly represents the majority of workers, in line with the Labour Regulations 2007 (L.I. 1833). TEWU-GH insists this verification “would bring the matter to a final and just conclusion”.

TEWU-GH also called for the establishment of “a transparent, democratic, and verifiable process” to determine union representation across tertiary institutions, ensuring that governance structures reflect the voice of the majority.

Reaffirming its resolve, the union stated, “We remain committed to peaceful engagement with authorities but will not compromise on our demands or retreat in the face of adversity.”

TEWU-GH appealed to fellow labour unions, stakeholders, and all well-meaning Ghanaians to stand in solidarity, emphasising that “only through collective support can the rights and interests of tertiary education workers be protected — safeguarding industrial harmony across the Traditional Public Universities.”

Invoking the powers vested in it under its constitution and the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651), TEWU-GH officially declared an indefinite strike effective immediately and called on all members to “participate fully, adhere strictly to strike guidelines, and unite in solidarity to press for our legitimate rights.”