TEWU threatens nationwide strike over scrapped car maintenance allowance.

TEWU Threatens Nationwide Strike Over Termination of Car Maintenance Allowance.


Strike action looming

The Tertiary Education Workers Union of Ghana (TEWU-Ghana) has issued a two-week ultimatum to the government, demanding the immediate reinstatement of car maintenance allowances for junior staff in tertiary institutions. 

The union has warned that failure to comply will trigger a nationwide strike, potentially disrupting essential operations across public universities.


Origins of the Dispute

The standoff arises from a directive by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), instructing the cessation of vehicle maintenance allowance payments to junior staff. 

This allowance, established in August 2024 following negotiations involving TEWU-Ghana, GTEC, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, and the Ministry of Finance, was designed to assist junior staff who use personal vehicles for official duties.

The government justifies the withdrawal as part of broader austerity measures aimed at curbing public sector expenditure. 

However, TEWU-Ghana argues that the move violates legally binding agreements and disproportionately affects lower-paid workers already grappling with economic hardships.


Union Condemns Decision as a Breach of Agreement

Charles Arthur, Local Chairman of TEWU-Ghana at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has denounced the directive as both a breach of contract and a violation of labour rights.

“This directive is not only unjust but also contravenes the rulings of the Labour Commission. The car maintenance allowance is a negotiated entitlement, and its withdrawal undermines the collective bargaining process,” Arthur asserted.

He emphasized the limited scope of the allowance, revealing that out of 600 junior staff members at KNUST, only 43 benefit from it. Arthur described the government’s decision as arbitrary and discriminatory, given the allowance’s minimal fiscal impact.


Impending Industrial Action

With tensions escalating, TEWU-Ghana has made it clear that it will initiate industrial action if the government fails to restore the allowance by the end of the month.

“We have satisfied all legal requirements to embark on a strike. Should the government fail to reverse this decision, we will have no option but to withdraw our services,” Arthur warned.

A nationwide strike could severely disrupt administrative and operational activities in tertiary institutions, adding further strain to a public sector already burdened by ongoing labour disputes.

TEWU-Ghana remains resolute in its demand, urging the government to honor its commitments and reinstate the car maintenance allowance without delay.

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