The Management of Judicial Service has called on its staff to resume work with immediate effect since the action has been declared illegal by the National Labour Commission.
Subsequently, it has asked judges and magistrates to continue proceedings where they left off, and the public to attend courts as they were opened for use.
A statement signed and issued by Cynthia Pamela A. Addo, Judicial Secretary in Accra on Wednesday said that it was concerned that JUSAG had laid down its tools in spite of the ‘illegality’.
Meanwhile the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) insists the strike action it embarked on two days ago in protest over salary reviews is legal.
It has, therefore, asked its members to stay away from work and demand the implementation of negotiated salary reviews done by the Judicial Council.
The association in a statement signed and issued by Derrick Annan, General Secretary, on Tuesday said it disagreed with the position of management of Judicial Service that JUSAG’s action was illegal.
JUSAG declared strike on November 12.
A statement signed by Alex Nartey, National President, JUSAG, asked staff or members not to report to work until the implementation of the Judicial Council Committee’s report.
It said security personnel of the Judicial Service shall, however, report to work to protect life and property.
The association said it had not received copies of report from a committee set up by the Judicial Council.
According to the statement, JUSAG had held series of meetings with management of National Labour Commission since it issued notice to embark on strike on November 1.
It said that after the meeting with the Commission on November 11, 2019, the leadership of JUSAG had a meeting with “our rank and file”.
The statement said they were asked to proceed with the strike since they had complied with the procedure as spelt out in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
“They resolved since we already complied with the procedures under the 1992 Constitution regarding our conditions of service, we should proceed accordingly”.
In view of the above, the statement said, “The leadership is left with no option than to declare an indefinite strike action to demand the assenting and implementation of the Judicial Council Committee’s report.”
This is not the first time JUSAG had embark on strike over salary reviews.
The action by JUSAG albeit constitutional, may affect justice delivery nationwide.
Court users, litigants and persons standing trial; including criminal and civil proceedings, may come to a standstill as judges and magistrates cannot work without the support of JUSAG members who are staff of Judicial Service.
BY TIMES REPORTER
