TEWU kick starts strike over Single Spine salary disparities

According to the Union, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission has failed to bridge the real gap that exists between salaries of the Junior and Senior staff of the public universities.

In a statement, the Union said The Union has come thus far with concerns on members of the Public Universities in relation to the distortions, disparities and widening salary gap between Junior and Senior staff of the Public Universities as a result of the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure.

"This general dissatisfaction resulted in the formation of a committee to review and make recommendations on the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure.

"As we speak today,15th January, 2016 these decisions have not been implemented by both Fair Wages and Salaries Commission leaving us with no option than to advise ourselves."

The Union is therefore calling on its members to "lay down their tools with effect from Monday 18th January 2016 until further notice."

Below is the full statement:

PRESS RELEASE BY TEACHERS AND EDUCATIONAL WORKERS UNION (TEWU) IN RELATION TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SINGLE SPINE SALARY STRUCTURE CONCERNSThe Union has come thus far with concerns on members of the Public Universities in relation to the distortions, disparities and widening salary gap between Junior and Senior staff of the Public Universities as a result of the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure.This press release is an indication of the worries and frustrations the Union has gone through with Fair Wages and Salaries Commission since the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure in 2010.1. REASONS FOR THE STRIKE ACTION IN 6TH SEPTEMBER, 2013There has been a general dissatisfaction by members of the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) in connection with the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure in the Public Universities.This general dissatisfaction resulted in the formation of a committee to review and make recommendations on the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure.The fallout from the committee’s report revealed that there was a real gap between the Junior and Senior staff that needed to be bridged among other things. Unfortunately Fair Wages and Salaries Commission failed to act upon the committee’s recommendations, after accepting that the Union’s concerns were genuine, hence the strike action in September 2013.2. REASONS FOR CALLING OFF THE STRIKE ACTIONBased on the appeal and assurance made by Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and Vice Chancellors’ Ghana to resolve the concerns raised by the Union, the strike action was suspended.Further to the suspension of the strike, Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, Vice Chancellors’ Ghana on one hand and the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) on the other hand agreed to bridge the gap between Junior and Senior staff of the Public Universities.On the May 2013, the committee was formed comprising Human Resource Directors of the Public Universities and Representatives of Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) to submit a final report on the June 2015 to Fair Wages and Salaries Commission for consideration and implementation3. REASONS FOR THE CURRENT ACTIONSince Fair Wages and Salaries Commission have not been fair with us and have failed to carry out its part of the agreement after the submission of the committee’s report since June 2015.The Union held a press conference on the 10th of December 2015 giving Fair Wages and Salaries Commission up to December 2015 ending to implement the said decision.As we speak today,15th January, 2016 these decisions have not been implemented by both Fair Wages and Salaries Commission leaving us with no option than to advise ourselves.On the basis of the above, the National Union (TEWU) calls on its rank and file in the Public Universities to lay down their tools with effect from Monday 18th January 2016 until further notice.CHOOOBOOI!!!