The Division of the Public Services Workers Union of TUC (Ghana) of the National Identification Authority (NIA) has issued a notice to the management of the NIA of its intent to embark on an industrial action on 25th March 2024.
According to the Union, the management of NIA failed to implement the proposed allowances that were submitted to the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission. The letter maintained that the NIA’s failure to implement the allowances resulted in its inability to pay all allowances due from July 2008 to February 2024.
The notification was contained in a letter to the Executive Secretary of the NIA which was signed by Divisional Chairman, Francis Bangfudeme Nyuzaghl and the Divisional Secretary, Adu Kyeremeh Kwabena on March 4.
“In line with the above statement, we have indeed observed in recent times the specific citing of this Conditions of Service document in interdicting and dismissing staff of the Authority. However, none of the allowances due to staff as provided for in the current CoS document have been reflected on our payslips”
Division of the Public Services Workers Union
The Union further indicated that the union submitted a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) draft in September 2023 at the request of Management concerning the aforementioned issue. The Union stated that all efforts it took to further engage the NIA were futile. It argued that it could not get the Management to form a Joint Standing Negotiation Committee (JSNC) to begin and conclude negotiations on the payment of allowances.
“Maintaining good faith, we again in a joint letter issued with our sister union, ICU, on February 20th, 2024, requested a meeting with Management to reconstitute the JSNC. That letter, although you have confirmed receipt has still not been responded to”.
Division of the Public Services Workers Union
The Union accused the Management of unduly delaying working on the Scheme of Service document of NIA. It indicated that the delay has affected Human Resource (HR) functions such as recruitment, job classification, promotion, performance management, training, and succession management.
The letter indicated that the belief of the union that the NIA had been neglectful of its needs was strengthened by the Public Service Commission’s (PSC) letter of response to the National Labor Commission (NLC), dated February 29, 2024, which indicated that since the validation of the SoS in October 2023, “the NIA has not referred the Scheme of Service document to PSC for its final approval”.
NIA Demanded To Fulfill Conditions
The Union stated that it would proceed with industrial actions if the proposed and submitted allowances to the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission as indicated by the Executive Secretary during his regional working visit are not implemented to reflect on the March 2024 payslip of its members.
The Union also demanded that all allowances due the union with arrears up to February 2024, from the dates of appointment, as contained in the existing conditions of service according to sections 2.3.2,2.3.3, 9.4.5iv, & 9.4.10, must reflect on the March 2024 payslip of its members.
The Union further insisted that the Scheme of Service (SOS) must be approved and implemented by March 25, 2024, and the draft Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) of the Unions should be negotiated by March 25, 2024.
Conclusively, the Union indicated that the failure of the Management to meet these requests on or before the stated date would be met with an industrial strike action of all union members nationwide: at the Head Office, Regional Offices, Premium Centers, and District Offices.
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