The Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has issued a two-week ultimatum to government and key education-sector stakeholders to address what it describes as the persistent neglect, discrimination and unfair treatment of non-teaching staff.
The union warned that failure to resolve the grievances could force its members to take further action, raising the prospect of renewed industrial tension within Ghana’s education sector.
In a circular issued on Friday, August 14, 2026, TEWU accused authorities of failing to adequately address longstanding concerns affecting non-teaching workers within the Ghana Education Service (GES), public and technical universities and other educational institutions.
According to the union, its members continue to face delayed payment of remuneration, unfair labour practices, inadequate recognition, limited opportunities for career progression and poor working conditions.
TEWU said the situation has generated growing frustration among non-teaching staff and could undermine industrial harmony if the concerns are not urgently addressed.
The union said its grievances are grounded in the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), arguing that some of the practices affecting its members constitute unfair labour practices.
TEWU stressed that non-teaching workers form an integral part of Ghana’s education system and should not be treated as secondary to teaching staff.
Among the union’s key demands is the immediate payment of outstanding overtime allowances owed to watchmen and security personnel working under the Ghana Education Service.
The union is demanding that all accrued overtime payments owed to the affected workers be settled without further delay.
TEWU has also raised alarm over proposed changes to university statutes which it says could affect the union’s representation on governing councils of universities and colleges of education.
The union believes such changes could weaken the voice and representation of non-teaching workers in decisions affecting their conditions of service and institutional welfare.
With several issues still unresolved, TEWU has now given the relevant authorities two weeks to act.
The ultimatum takes effect from August 14 and has been directed at key stakeholders, including the Minister of Finance, Minister of Education, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), university managements and the management of the Ghana Education Service.
“By this statement, we are serving two (2) weeks’ notice, effective today, 14th August 2026, on the various stakeholders… to address our concerns accordingly,” the union stated.
TEWU warned that failure to address the outstanding issues would leave its members with no option but to “advise themselves accordingly.”
The warning places fresh pressure on government and education-sector managers to resolve the concerns before the two-week deadline expires, with the union’s threat signalling the possibility of industrial action if no satisfactory response is received.
For TEWU, the dispute goes beyond unpaid allowances. The union says it is demanding recognition, fair treatment and improved working conditions for thousands of non-teaching workers whose roles remain critical to the functioning of Ghana’s education system.
