Labor and industrial relations expert, Mohammed Affum, has warned the government that,;if care is not taken the country is going to face a very disruptive industrial relations climate.
Speaking on the ongoing impasse between UTAG and the NLC;regarding the lack of willingness by government to meet their demands,;with the NLC threatening legal action against UTAG, he proffered that the best option for government is to take certain actions that will create the right psychological climate for negotiations to take place.
This, he indicated, should be done especially with the public sector workers in the country.
“Government’s position is very weakened but I believe that if leadership is shown and the right climate created, I believe that the parties can reach an agreement and the strike will be called off for industrial peace to take place.
“If that does not happen,;what one can see is an industrial relationship climate which is characterized by strike actions and a possible shutdown of government machinery because of civil servants who are also aggrieved because they did not get what they deserve.”
Mohammed Affum
Slash salaries of article 71 office holders
Touching on how to bring a solution to the ongoing impasse, Mr. Affum called on government to swiftly resolve the impasse between the University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (UTAG);and the National Labor Commission (NLC) by slashing the salaries of Article 71 office holders;in order to send them back to the classroom.
He said the reason government cannot reach a decision that is sound enough;to send the striking union back to the classroom is because it has a weak position;due to the recent increase in the salaries of Article 71 office holders.
Mr Affum said this makes it very hard for the striking union to accept; the non-malleable negotiating stance of government by refusing to meet their demands.
He said other unions like the Ghana Medical Association (GMA);and the Civil Servants Association (CSA) have prompted government for going on strike if their grievances are not attended to.
“I would want the President to show leadership;by initiating moves to have the salaries of Article 71 office holders’ reduced, ;because having increased them by 79% and giving others 4% and 7%,;I think negotiation is going to be difficult with the workers.”
Mohammed Affum
UTAG in consultation with legal team
Meanwhile, the leadership of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG),;says it has begun consultations with its legal team to enable it to respond appropriately to;an injunction secured by the National Labor Commission (NLC) against their strike.
According to UTAG, the news of the injunction came in after it had concluded nationwide consultations with members and decided not to call off the strike until their demands are met by the government.
The Association said even though they haven’t been served yet,;they have seen the injunction in the media and have tasked their lawyers to respond appropriately.
