The Rotational Nurses and Midwives Association of Ghana has declared its intention to embark on industrial action if the long-standing issue of unsettled National Service allowances, spanning seven months, remains unaddressed.
The association expressed deep concern over the government’s prolonged silence on the matter, asserting that the prevailing economic challenges have taken a toll on the livelihoods of its members.
Amidst the financial strain, members of the association disclosed that they are grappling with daily survival, at times resorting to meagre meals such as gari and sugar.
The National President of the Rotational Nurses and Midwives Association of Ghana, Amable Kwame Jr. highlighted the severity of the situation during a media interview on Thursday, February 1 2024 and further emphasized that a significant impact of the government’s inability to pay the allowance has been on the professional nurses and midwives who have been eagerly awaiting resolution since the commencement of national service in July 2023.
“Our concern is that we want our financial clearances to be released, and we want our monies to be disbursed to us. When we say we are laying down our tool, it is not to say we don’t care”
Amable Kwame Jr
Furthermore, the National President of the Rotational Nurses and Midwives Association of Ghana, Amable Kwame Jr. further elaborated on the association’s demand for immediate action, expressing disappointment in the government’s negligence of the professionals’ plight.
Mr Amable Kwame Jr also emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that the livelihoods of the nurses and midwives are at stake.
According to Mr Amable Kwame Jr, the association has given the government a two-week ultimatum to respond to their demands in which failure to receive a satisfactory response within the stipulated timeframe will lead to consultations with the members regarding the initiation of industrial action.
“The decision to embark on strike will be taken by members of the association, That decision will be made by members; with leadership, we can’t decide for the members.
“When the two weeks elapse and we don’t get any response from the Minister, we as the leaders are going to engage members on the next line of action, which is possibly laying down our tools because we don’t have money to take a car to work and not because we don’t care for our patients.”
Amable Kwame Jr
TEWU Commences Nationwide Strike Over Unresolved Grievances
Meanwhile, members of the Tertiary Education Workers Union of Ghana (TEWUG) have embarked on an indefinite strike starting today, demanding improved conditions of service.
The decision to lay down tools according to the Union is a result of the government’s failure to address a range of concerns, including welfare needs, Tier-two pension funds, vehicle maintenance allowance, and overtime allowance of its members.
The National Chairman of the Tertiary Education Workers Union of Ghana, Sulemana Abdul-Rahman, expressed the union’s frustration with the perceived lack of commitment from the government to address the challenges faced by its members in the traditional public universities.
“On the lackadaisical nature of the employer, which is the government of Ghana, to address the challenges and problems of TEWU members in the traditional public universities, the TEWU of Ghana hereby declares an indefinite strike, and the strike takes effect on 1st February, which is Thursday, until further notice,”
Sulemana Abdul-Rahman
Mr Abdul-Rahman emphasized that the strike would persist until the government adequately addresses the concerns raised by the Tertiary Education Workers Union of Ghana.
He thus called for a swift and comprehensive resolution to the issues to ensure the well-being and job satisfaction of its members. As part of the strike action, Mr Abdul-Rahman noted that the members of the Tertiary Education Workers Union of Ghana have withdrawn essential services, affecting various aspects of university operations.
According to him, this includes the suspension of activities such as cleaning the environment, setting up classrooms, providing security, and hospital services.
He stressed that the withdrawal of these services underscores the seriousness of the union’s demands and amplifies the impact of their strike on the university community.
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