GMA to strike Sept 30 over worsening conditions of service

Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has threatened to withdraw all services over unpaid arrears and worsening conditions of service as they gave government September 30 deadline to resolve their grievances or face nationwide industrial action.

The latest September 30 ultimatum being given to government by the GMA to resolve outstanding matters or they will lay down their tools and declare a full-blown strike is due to the employer’s failure to address many concerns tabled before.

According to the General Secretary of GMA Dr. Justice Yankson, government signed their conditions of service in 2019 but has been dragging its feet when it comes to implementation coupled with a backlog of arrears.

Speaking in an interview monitored by African Editors on Tuesday 3 August 2021 in Accra, Dr. Yankson said “We’ve spelt out in a communique from our just-ended meetings to government on our roadmap to full-blown strike if the employer failed to implement the 2019 conditions of service”.

The GMA has called on government to immediately enforce the Covid-19 safety protocols and stop making appeal to the public to ensure total compliance.

Meanwhile, Minority Caucus of Parliament has predicted impending crisis on the labour front due government poor management of conditions of service including low pay rise.

Currently UTAG, FUSSAG
and SSA-UG on nationwide strike over worsening conditions of service and government’s lukewarm attitudes to resolve labour issues.

Speaking during debates to in the floor of parliament, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said “There is an impending labour unrests, industrial conflicts because of poor management and lower pay rise”.

We’ll not call-off strike upon NLC invitation- SSA-UG

Senior Staff Association of University of Ghana (SSA-UG) says it will not kowtow to calls by National Labour Commission (NLC) to call-off ongoing nationwide strike upon invitation to negotiation table.

Senior Staff Association of University of Ghana (SSA-UG), Federation of Universities’ Senior Staff Association of Ghana (FUSSAG) and University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) declared full-blown industrial action over worsening conditions of service which left students at University of Ghana stranded.

Some affected final year students of University of Ghana have complained that they are already racing against time to complete academic exercises for the semester, saying the strike may throw the academic calendar out of gear.

The NLC in a bid to resolve the issue has ordered the labour unions to call-off the strike and resume the negotiation table to resolve their grievances.

But, the SSA-UG says they unable to call-off the strike in the name of invitation to negotiation table.

In an interview monitored by African Editors on Tuesday 3 August 2021 in Accra, National Chairman of SSA-UG Zachariah Mohammed said “We’re unable to call off the strike upon invitation to table over conditions of service”.

SSA-UG, FUSSAG, UTAG full-blown strike left students stranded

The full-blown agitations on the labour front by Senior Staff Association of University of Ghana (SSA-UG), Federation of Universities’ Senior Staff Association of Ghana (FUSSAG) and University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) over worsening conditions of service has left students at University of Ghana stranded.

The latest to join the nationwide industrial action is University Teachers Association Association after SSA-UG, FUSSA over government refusal to pay conditions of service due them.

A visit to University of Ghana Campus in Accra saw an empty lecturer halls with some students at the entrance idle.

Some students told African Editors that ” they are already racing against time to complete task for the semester and the strike will throw the academic calendar off gear.

According to President of the Association Prof. Marfo, the government has been dragging its feet when it comes to payment of what is due them in line with 2012 conditions of service.

Speaking in an interview monitored by African Editors on Wednesday 28 July 2021 in Accra, Prof. Marfo said “If government fails to pay the conditions of service, we’ll lay down our tools. We’ll withdraw teaching, conduct of examinations and others”.

SSA-UG, FUSSAG strike: NLC racing against 72-hour deadline

National Labour Commission (NLC) is racing against 72-hour deadline to stop full-blown industrial action by some labour unions in Ghana over government’s failure to resolve unfavourable conditions of service.

There is a growing agitation on the labour front by unions such as National Association of Graduate Teachers (GNAT), Coalition of concerned Teachers, Senior Staff Association of University of Ghana (SSA-UG) together with Federation of Universities Senior Staff Association of Ghana (FUSSAG) over unfavourable conditions of service including the latest 4% pay increment.

SSA-UG together with FUSSAG has given government 72-hour ultimatum to resolve their grievances or they will with their services.

Speaking in an interview monitored by African Editors on Tuesday 27 July 2021 in Accra, National Chairman of University of Ghana Senior Staff Association (SSA-UG) Zacharia Mohammed said “National Labour Commission asked us to call off our first industrial action in June and directed government to immediately resolve our grievances but the government has been dragging its feet”.

“The attitudes of government implied that they will not comply with NLC directive”.

He noted that “When government violated the NLC order, the NLC did nothing about it but the NLC attempted to seek injunction in court when we embarked on industrial action”

Meanwhile, Executive Secretary of National Labour Commission Ofosu Asamoah says they have already acted on the document before his outfit from the association and will invite you them to table over the matter for resolution.

Source : africaneditors.com