The Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is joining others in public universities on a planned sit-down strike. Information available to Luv Fm indicates some universities have started what officials describe as a ‘long meeting’ to demand immediate payment of salary arrears. The Public Services Joint Standing Negotiating Committee concluded a 10 per cent pay increase across-the-board for all public servants effective January 2010. The committee agreed payment of the new salary levels will be effected in July whilst arrears will be paid in two tranches in August and September. However, TEWU members in public universities say they are yet to receive the first tranche, prompting the agitation. Luv Fm inquiries indicated that junior workers at the KNUST are particularly pressing on their leaders to ensure the arrears are paid in full and not in tranches. Some who were idling around the campus told Luv Fm: “We need our share which we are supposed to energize us to work as the government expects… without the money we cannot do anything, without motivation we cannot do anything.” At the time of filing this report, TEWU executives were filing notices to the University management to commence action on Wednesday. Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh