2026 Base Pay Negotiations: Some members kick against Organised Labour and gov’t’s 10 to 15% increase

Reliable information reaching SOMPA NEWS desk indicates that the leadership of the Organised Labour and the Government of President John Dramani Mahama could settle on base pay increase ranging between 10% and 15 % for the 2026 minimum pay increment negetiations.

 This margin of increase could only be possible after the stakeholders have agreed in a later date expected by the end of the year.

According to our checks during a recent negotiation meeting held by the stakeholders in Accra, the leadership of the Labour Unions led by the TUC proposed an initial 20% pay increment but some members of the Union were utterly shocked when the Organised Labour reduced it to 15% even before the negotiations started.

Meanwhile, the government on her part proposed a paltry offer of 2.5% and later adjusted it to 5% during the discussions on the same day but the posture of the Labour apparently showed their approval of the government’s initial pay increase for the 2026.

It would be recalled that the government of Mr. John Dramani Mahama in 2025 during the first year of his second term offered the Labour Front a 10% salary increment which the Unions agreed after raising over 40% pay increase during their negotiations.

The 2026 salary increment of 5% proposal  from the government stems from its justification of relatively maintaining general economic stability where prices of goods and services have seen stable conditions including a single digit inflation chalked for the first time in about a decade.

But while the discussions between the stakeholders were still ongoing some members of the Labour Unions have already raised the red flag accusing the leadership of the Trade Union Congress of failing to negotiate for the total interest of government workers adding the current psoture was not different from last year where the government gave them 10% pay increase. The members who have expressed disappointment in the Labour Unions blamed them for the weak approach in negotiating for the larger interest of the government workforce.

in a statement, members of Senior Staff Association of University of Ghana, UG-Korle-bu Branch, SSA-UoG, UniMAC Branch as well as the Innovative Teachers are already threatening a walk out of the negotiations if TUC continues to show the attitude of unconcern to the general interest of the Ghanaian workers.

The statement partly read, ” We, the undersigned Labour Unions, wish to express our disappointment and discontent regarding the behaviour of the leadership of Organised Labour towards the ongoing 2026 Base Pay Negotiations between Organised Labour and the Government of Ghana.

The average  Ghanaian worker is battling with high utility tariffs, abnormal taxes, and a rising cost  of living. It is expected that the leadership of Labour Unions will come to their aid with an improved proposal at the 2026 Base Pay negotiations. It is shocking and unacceptable that Organised Labour would begin the 2026 Base Pay  Negotiations with a meagre proposal of 20%, which they later reviewed downward to 15% on day  one. The Government’s insulting offer of 2.5% and later adjusted to 5% shows a complete lack of  empathy and respect for the sacrifices of public sector workers who continue to deliver essential  services under increasingly difficult circumstances”.

Attached is the statement of the concerned members

Sompaonline.com/Asante-Yeboah Benedict