On July 15, 2024, Ghana is set to experience a major disruption in various sectors as numerous labour unions join Organised Labour in a nationwide strike.
The protest aims to halt the government’s proposed sale of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) properties to Rock City. Despite previous calls by Organised Labour to suspend the sale, the government intends to proceed with selling 60% of SSNIT’s shares in four hotels, prompting the union’s decision to strike.
The leadership of the Pre-Tertiary Unions under the Ministry of Education has called on all teachers and non-teaching staff to lay down their tools and stay off work beginning July 15, 2024. This action aligns with the broader movement led by Organised Labour.
The unions believe that the sale of SSNIT properties is detrimental to Ghanaian workers, including educators. They argue that the sale will undermine the financial security of the SSNIT fund, which is crucial for their pensions.
In a show of solidarity, the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has declared an indefinite industrial action starting from July 15, 2024. The GMA’s National Executive Council (NEC) convened an emergency meeting on July 12, 2024, to deliberate on the issue and outlined a phased roadmap for their strike.
“Withdrawal of Outpatient Department (OPD) services from July 15–17, 2024; Withdrawal of Emergency Services from July 18–21, 2024; and Complete Withdrawal of ALL services starting July 22, 2024.”
Ghana Medical Association (GMA)
The GMA has urged all its members to adhere strictly to this roadmap unless otherwise directed by the Council. This move is designed to pressure SSNIT into terminating the sale of its shares in the hotels.
The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), along with all nursing and midwifery associations under its Collective Bargaining Certificate, will begin their industrial action on the same date.
The GRNMA has expressed its disapproval of the sale, highlighting that it is against the interests of Ghanaian nurses, midwives, and other workers who rely on SSNIT for their future financial security. The association has called on all its members to participate fully in the strike and has warned management heads not to prevent any nurse or midwife from exercising their right to strike.
The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG), an accredited member of Organised Labour, has also announced its participation in the strike. JUSAG’s National Executive Council has directed all judicial service staff to stay away from work starting July 15, 2024, in compliance with the broader Organised Labour directive.
“The association believes that the proposed sale is not in the best interest of Ghanaian workers and stands firmly with the collective call for the government to halt the process.”
Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG)
Organised Labour’s Unified Stand
At an emergency meeting held on July 12, 2024, at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in Accra, the leadership of Organised Labour reiterated its firm opposition to the sale of SSNIT’s shares in the hotels. The meeting resulted in a unified resolution calling for an immediate termination of the sale process.
The nationwide strike is expected to cause significant disruptions across various sectors, including education, healthcare, and judicial services. The Pre-Tertiary Unions, GMA, JUSAG, and GRNMA, among others, have all laid out clear roadmaps for their industrial actions.
With this collective action, the unions aim to force the government to reconsider its decision on the sale of SSNIT properties. They argue that the sale will have long-term negative impacts on the financial stability of the SSNIT fund, which is critical for the retirement security of Ghanaian workers.
The unions have vowed to continue their strike until SSNIT publicly announces the termination of the sale. The outcome of this standoff will be closely watched, as it holds significant implications for labour relations and workers’ rights in Ghana.
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