Pay us COLA to avoid turmoil in education sector – TEWU to government

The Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union, (TEWU) of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has warned the government that non-payment 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 the 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 stands to suffer and that will have a damming effect on the final years of the Senior High Schools in their preparations for final examinations," he said.

“The leadership of TEWU of TUC (GH) wants to put it on record that it has made frantic appeals to the 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 acknowledgment 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 THE GOVERNMENT TO COME CLEAR ON THE PAYMENT OF COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE (COLA), TO CUSHION MEMBERS AGAINST THE EXCRUCIATING ECONOMIC SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY

The Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union, TEWU of TUC (GH), wishes to send its strongest signal to the government, to immediately pay Cost of Living Allowance (COLA), to members without fail. 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 stands to suffer and that will have a damming effect on the final years of the Senior High Schools in their preparations for final examinations.

The leadership of TEWU of TUC (GH) wants to put it on record that it has made frantic appeals to the 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.

Unfortunately, these appeals have not received any positive response, not even an acknowledgment of the Union appeals by the government, especially the sector minister, that is, the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations.

Again, at the 2022 National May Day parade, at the Black Star Square, in Accra, the Secretary General of TUC (GH), Brother Anthony Yaw Baah, reiterated the issue of COLA to the President and his team present, but still, there is DEAFENING silence from the corridors of power.

As leaders of Public Sector workers, we cannot sit down for our members to be subjected to this treatment of no action from the government to support them through COLA to deal with the worsening economic situation. In view of this, we have resolved that, by the end of this month, if no response is heard from the government, members of the Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union, TEWU of TUC (GH), will have no other OPTION, then to advice our members to lay down their tools, until COLA hits the account of our cherished members.

The oil that helps the wheel of the economy to rotate is the workers’ sweat, so it is painful, why this treatment to workers by the government, with the complete silence on the various appeals for the authorities to pay workers COLA.

We, therefore, urge the government that the earlier it responds 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 labor front because living conditions are deteriorating by the day.

Issued for and on behalf of the National Leadership

Mark D. Korankye
General Secretary, TEWU of TUC (Ghana)