TEWU calls for trust between unions, employers

March 2, 2026

2 minutes read

Mr Azortibah (seated right) with Mr Beers (seated, third from right) and other dignitaries at the programme

THE General Secretary of the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Ghana, King James Azortibah, has urged stronger consultation and trust between unions, employers and government.

This, he said, would promote industrial harmony and improve productivity in the education sector.

He said negotiation should not be confrontational or stressful, but rather the final stage of discussions shaped through prior consultations and information sharing among social partners.

According to him, negotiations must serve as a platform to formalise agreements reached through consensus building instead of becoming battlegrounds.

Mr Azortibah made the call at a social dialogue workshop organised by the Teachers and Educational Workers Union in collaboration with PUM Netherlands, on the theme “Social Dialogue for Industrial Harmony, Growth and Productivity.”

The workshop held in Accra on Friday sought to strengthen industrial harmony, promote mutual trust and deepen consultation within the education sector.

He observed that one of the key challenges had been the perception of rivalry between unions and employers, when in reality both sides were partners working toward the same institutional and national goals.

He stressed that TEWU members provided essential services and therefore deserved fair reward and motivation, adding that improved motivation would naturally enhance productivity.

Mr Azortibah recalled that the union had recently experienced difficult negotiations over its conditions of service which resulted in strike action and street protests.

He indicated that such developments could have been avoided if communication channels had functioned more effectively and proposals had received timely attention.

He described the communication gap between unions and government as a major concern, citing instances where letters and proposals were not promptly reviewed due to busy schedules and the absence of designated officers to handle union matters.

He expressed optimism that the social dialogue platform would encourage stakeholders to respond to proposals in good time and embrace a win-win approach to ensure peaceful industrial relations and sustained growth.

The National Chairperson of TEWU, Salamatu Mahamah Braimah, described social dialogue as the open exchange between employers, workers and government, calling it the backbone of trust, fairness and sustainable growth.

She said it fostered mutual understanding, resolved conflicts early and shaped policies that benefited all stakeholders.

In his presentation, a PUM expert, Henk van Beers, highlighted social dialogue as an effective instrument for trade unions, employers’ organisations and government.

He noted that lack of trust among stakeholders remained one of the biggest barriers to effective dialogue and stressed the need for institutional commitment and constructive engagement.

He explained that effective social dialogue required clarity of roles, transparency in information sharing and respect for agreed procedures.

He added that when stakeholders understood their shared responsibilities and maintained open channels of communication, disputes could be managed early before escalating into industrial unrest.

The workshop brought together representatives from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, the Ghana Education Service and the Ghana Library Authority.

BY STEPHANIE BIRIKORANG

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