The Deputy Minister-Designate for Employment and Labour Relations, Bright Wireko-Brobby has intimated that strikes are inevitable in the work environment.
Speaking during his vetting, he noted that the strike actions by government employees are not anything bad. He further explained that in every work environment, there is bound to be strike actions once in a while.
“Strikes are inevitable, and for us in the Ministry, we do not see them as something bad. Because anytime there is anything like that,;we try to delve deeper and understand the issue, and ensure that we resolve it once and for all.”
Wireko-Brobby
His comment comes on the back of the various strike actions which have taken place by government employees to voice out their concerns. Notable among the strikes are that of the Laboratory Scientists across the country and;the ongoing one by the Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana.
Touching on the actions taken by the Employment ministry during the strike action by the laboratory scientist, Mr. Wireko-Brobby revealed that it was the Ministry that urged the Labour Commission to help deal with the issue. He added that they did not ignore the issue as being said but intervened through the NLC.
NLC orders SSA-UoG to call of strike
Meanwhile, the National Labor Commission (NLC),;has ordered the Senior Staff of Universities of Ghana ( SSA-UoG) to immediately call off the ongoing strike;and appear before it today, Wednesday, June 9, 2021, to discuss their concerns.
The NLC’s order comes after it received a letter from the Ministry of Health that;in furtherance of the strike embarked upon by the Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana, its members providing essential services in hospitals, clinics, fire service, anatomy departments and basic schools in public universities have been asked to also lay down their tools.
In a letter to the association on Tuesday, June 8, 2021,;NLC said the order is in the exercise of its powers to remind the association that its action goes against section 127(3) of Act 651.
“The National Labour Commission in the exercise of its powers under Section 139(d) of the Labour Act,;2003 (Act 651) wishes to draw the Association’s attention to a contravention of Section 127(3) of Act 651 and hereby directs the SSA-UoG to not only withdraw the said directive to the essential service providers but to also call off the ongoing strike immediately pursuant to Section 161 of Act 651 and appear before the Commission, Wednesday 9th June 2021 at 3 pm.”
NLC
The NLC further said that the failure of the association to appear before the commission will force it to enforce compliance.
SSA-UoG to meet FWSC
Prior to this,;the association already scheduled a meeting with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC);to address issues concerning its ongoing strike.
The Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana said it is confident of a positive outcome of a scheduled meeting with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) today, June 9, 2021.
The FWSC invited leaders of the Association to a meeting in a bid to address issues concerning their ongoing strike. The National President of the Association, Zakaria Mohammed, said they will call off the strike if the negotiations go well.
The SSA-UoG declared an indefinite strike three weeks ago;over the failure of the government to pay the Tier 2 pension of its members.
Among other things, members of the association are asking for the award of market premium and non-basic allowance;as well as the finalization of negotiations of their conditions of service.
