The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) Division of the Public Services Workers’ Union of Trade Union Congress (TUC) has begun an indefinite strike action effective Wednesday, September 18.

This was due to the failure of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to honour a seven-day ultimatum to reconvene negotiations for better working conditions for civic educators.

Speaking at a press engagement in Ho, the Volta and Oti Regional Chairman of the NCCE division of the PWU of TUC, Clement Mamadou said that the division tabled an increment for 5 existing allowances and the introduction of 2 new allowances before the FWSC.

He outlined that the demands included an increase in the civic education field allowance, public engagement allowance, democracy retention allowance, hardship/frontier allowance, and District Directors/Duty Holders accommodation subsidy.

He further indicated that the Division requested the introduction of a professional development allowance and fuel allowance, out of which the professional development allowance was agreed upon, after several negotiations.

Mr Mamadou indicated that leadership rejected the decision by the FWSC and issued a seven-day ultimatum for negotiation to be resumed.

“We went into jaw-jaw agreement and disagreement and we gave them an ultimatum of seven days that they should consult their employer. You know Fair Wages also have an employer which is the government. They should go to the bigger employer and tell them that they have come to us with the mandate that they have been given.

“But we say we disagree and we are not satisfied, it is disheartening, it is making our work not being recognized especially with the volatile democracy that we have”, he said.

He, therefore, explained that the next line of action was an indefinite strike action as decided by the National Executive Council, following the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum.

He entreated staff across the Volta and Oti regions to lay down their tools and wait for further directives from leadership.

“So we are only telling you that from today close of work at 4 O’clock, we do not want to see anybody at work tomorrow [Thursday]”, he stressed.

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