Public Service workers in 65 state agencies declare indefinite strike
Public sector workers under the Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have declared an indefinite strike action, effective Tuesday, July 12, 2022.
In a statement issued on July 8, 2022, the PSWU said that the main reason for its decision to embark on a strike action is the failure of the government to address its concerns for a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) to alleviate the hardship on its members as a result of the current economic hardships.
“The over 27,000 workers within the over 65 public sector institutions that make up the PSWU feel the economic crunch in their pockets, with each passing day resulting in uncertainties of meeting basic needs. Obviously, a possible return to the IMF further complicates the economic uncertainties faced by public sector workers and flashes back memories of harsh labour policies that disadvantage the ordinary worker.
“Noticeably, a decision to enter into an IMF programme risks a return to a harsh industrial atmosphere rife of conditionalities such as sale of critical and well performing national assets, redundancies, freeze on employment, freeze in wages (an intention denied by His Excellency the President during his Remarks at the 1lth Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the TUC (Ghana) in Kumasi on 23rd March 2021)
“Consequently, at an Emergency Meeting of the Management Committee and representatives from the over 65 institutions that make up the PSWU, our members were left with no choice than to embark on a Strike effective Tues. 19th July2022 until our concerns are addressed,” portions of the statement released by PSWU said.
It added that another reason for its decision to strike was government’s failure to address concerns of its old and vulnerable pensionary who are suffering the most in the midst of this current economic hardship.
uly 8,2022
Inflation continues to rise with official figures for May, 2022 at 27 .60 , an lg-year high.
This has led to
frequent price increases and a constant erosion ofthe real value ofthe relatively low wages ofpublic
sector workers’ This condition informed Organized Labour, led by the TUC (Ghana) at the 2022 May
Day Parade to entreat the President of Ghana to approve the payment of Cost-of-Living Allowance
(CoLA) to cushion workers, followed by a written request on24th June,2022, albeit, without a response.
It could also be recalled, that as patriotic citizens and social partners in the development of Mother Ghana,
organized Labour groups, including the PSWU took the hard decision, to the chagrin of members, to
accept a 4%o and 7%o salary increment respectively for 2021 and.2022. However, considering unfolding
events such as relatively high salary increases for’Article 77′ and,related office holders and Government
expenditure patterns, we are worried that the sacrifices made by Organized Labour during the last
negotiations has been taken for granted. This situation is further worsened by the refusal of Government
to grant mandate for the negotiation of institution-specific conditions of service for a number of
organizations under the Single Spine, and sometimes its resort to delay tactics during negotiations.
The over 27,000 workers within the over 65 public sector institutions that make up the pSWU feel the
economic crunch in their pockets, with each passing day resulting in uncertainties of meeting basic needs.
Obviously, a possible return to the IMF further complicates the economic uncertainties faced by public
sector workers and flashes back memories of harsh labour policies that disadvantage the ordinary worker.
Noticeably, a decision to enter into an IMF programme risk a return to a harsh industrial atmosphere rife
of conditionalities such as sale of critical and well performing national assets, redundancies, freeze on
employment, fueeze in wages (an intention denied by His Excellency the President during his Remarks at
the 1lth Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the TUC (Ghana) in Kumasi on23,dMarch, 2021).
Further, for a number of workers who retired under the National Pensions (Amendment) Act,2014 (Act
883) which came into full force on l’t January,2020, the disparity in their lump sum payments as
compared to those who retired under PNDCL 247 have not been resolved. This has led to the already
vulnerable members of our society, the aged, going through further economic hardships despite the firm
assurances of the President to resolve this matter as far back as 13th October, 2020 inthe heat of the
Elections Campaign.
Consequently, at an Emergency Meeting of the Management Committee and representatives from the
over 65 institutions that make up the PSWU, our members were left with no choice than to embark on a
Strike effective Tues. 19th Jnlyr2022 until our concefirs are addressed.
For: TU (Ghana)
(BERN
Fax:
GEN SECRETARY
