Hundreds of workers belonging to the Tertiary Education Workers Union of Ghana (TEWU-GH) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have declared an indefinite strike effective April 30,2025.
The industrial action is the result of a three year struggle for recognition after the workers together with their colleagues in all public universities in Ghana broke away from the Teachers and Education Workers Union of the Trade Union Congress (TEWU-TUC).
The union is angered the Ghana Tertiary Education Council (GTEC) favors a TEWU-TUC nominee to represent them on the University Governing Council against a majority decision.
Leading hundreds of members in a news conference on Wednesday; KNUST Chairman of TEWU GHANA Charles Arthur described the development as a grave injustice that flies in the face of constitutionally recognized laws governing labor relations
“Despite being the majority union among workers at KNUST, TEWU-GH has been unjustly sidelined by GTEC, which has chosen to recognize TEWU-TUC as the representative union on the university’s Governing Council. This is not only a clear violation of the democratic principles of union representation, but also a deliberate act of suppression against the will of workers,” he contended.
He described as unthinkable how TEWU GH which had just 123 workers would be accorded representational recognition while TEWU-GH which commands an overwhelming majority of 789 members would be sidelined.
“GTEC’s decision to recognize a minority union (TEWU-TUC) over the majority union (TEWU-GH) is unjustifiable, biased, and undemocratic. This action amounts to cheating, and undermines labour freedom and collective bargaining rights protected by the Labour Act 2003 Act 651 and the 1992 Constitution,” he argued.
The union expressed disappointment in Prof. Ahmed Abdulai Jinapor, Director General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission accusing him of leading what they described as a biased and illegitimate process.
“We are baffled that GTEC, a regulatory body, whose mandate includes promoting equity, quality, and fairness in tertiary education governance, would involve itself in such an unwarranted and illegitimate decision,” he lamented.
Mr. Arthur warned that allowing TEWU – TUC on the KNUST University’s Governing Council sets a dangerous precedent for all public universities in Ghana and risks escalating unnecessary tensions on campuses.
UNION DEMANDS
The union has made three demands without which it is unwilling to resume its operations on the campus of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
- Immediate withdrawal of TEWU-TUC’s appointment as the workers? representative on the KNUST Governing Council.
- Immediate recognition of TEWU-GH as the rightful and majority union to represent worker’s interests on the Council.
- A clear and transparent process from GTEC in dealing with union representation going forward, with respect for democratic union choice.
Implication Of Strike
The union whose services cut across all departments and faculties of the university have charged their member to fully comply with the directive.
This strike action could have far and dire implications on all cleaning, gardening and janitorial services on campus; campus security; campus fire department; the university basic schools, library, university hospital operations and a host of other administrative activities,
