The Medical Laboratory Professional Workers Union (MELPWU) has announced a nationwide strike, set to commence on Monday, June 17th, 2024.
The Union, in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Dr Cephas Kofi Akortor and the National President, Patrick Nsobilla Asebga, MLS recounted that its decision is ratified by the National Executive Council during an emergency meeting.
According to the statement, these bodies have been uncooperative in addressing critical concerns, leading to a breakdown in labour-management relations.
“To prevent a rather explosive situation that cannot be easily managed by the Union, the National Executive Council at an emergency meeting approved the demands of membership to proceed on a full-blown nationwide industrial strike action effective Monday 17th June 2024 to enable them to press home the needed attention and importance to be given to the concerns of the Union”.
Dr. Cephas Kofi Akortor, General Secretary and Patrick Nsobilla Asebga, National Chairman, Medical Laboratory Professional Workers Union
The union cited two primary grievances prompting the strike, which include an undue delay in concluding negotiations and a lack of financial clearance for non-mechanized members by the Ministry of Finance and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission.
FWSC and MOF Fails to Comply with NLC’s Directives
The statement further recounted that despite directives from the National Labour Commission on May 30th, 2024, aimed at averting such actions the necessary interventions have not materialized.
Dr Cephas Kofi Akortor, General Secretary and the National President, Patrick Nsobilla Asebga, MLS of the union, together expressed the union’s frustration over the failure of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the Ministry of Finance to fulfil the National Labour Commission’s directives.
They emphasized that the members of the union have been patient and peaceful, but the continuous delays and lack of attention to the union’s legitimate demands have left them with no choice but to take strike action.
Moreover, Dr. Cephas Kofi Akortor, General Secretary and Patrick Nsobilla Asebga, National Chairman of the Medical Laboratory Professional Workers Union emphasized that the union’s decision was made to ensure that the critical services provided by medical laboratory professionals across the country receive the attention and importance its deserve.
The statement indicated that the strike action will impact services in all medical laboratories, blood banks, pathology laboratories, and selected mortuary facilities across the country.
The union’s membership according to the statement spans various institutions under the Ministry of Health and its allied agencies, including the Ghana Health Service, Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), National Blood Service (NBS), teaching hospitals, Ahmadiyya Health Services Ghana, and the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), among others.
In addition, the statement explained that the announcement of the strike action is in accordance with Section 159 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), underscoring the union’s compliance with legal requirements for industrial actions.
The leadership of the Medical Laboratory Professional Workers Union led by Dr. Cephas Kofi Akortor, General Secretary and Patrick Nsobilla Asebga, National Chairman emphasized that no act of intimidation will be tolerated.
They strongly asserted that the union would stand firm against any attempts to undermine its strike action.
The announcement of the impending strike action by the Medical Laboratory Professional Workers Union follows an earlier decision made by the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) to go on strike with immediate effect.
Central to the association’s concerns is the failure of the National Labour Commission (NLC) to enforce compulsory arbitration awards issued in May and August 2023, signaling what the association perceived as a systemic breakdown in the enforcement of the country’s labour laws.
The Medical Laboratory Professional Workers Union impending strike raises concerns about potential disruptions in critical healthcare services, particularly in diagnostic and pathological operations essential for patient care.
Stakeholders are therefore urged to engage with the union to find an amicable resolution to prevent the escalation of the situation.
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