The Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana says the industrial action will still be observed by all civil and local government workers, as the National Executive Council (NEC) of CLOGSAG continues to engage in negotiation with the government.
The association said they were still in negotiations with the government to help resolve it, adding that “we have justified whatever allowances that we have been given at the negotiation table.”
These were disclosed by the Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG, Mr Isaac Bampoe Addo at a press conference in Accra yesterday.
According to him, the demand for a neutrality allowance was a minute part of the civil and local government workers better conditions of service which was 80 per cent complete.
Touching on other labour related issues, Mr Addo said CLOGSAG was not in agreement with Trade Union Congress (TUC) on its intended strike, and that it dissociates itself from such decision.
It also noted that the Association, due to recent developments on the Labour front, would not collaborate with TUC in the celebration of this year’s May Day.
According to Mr Addo, CLOGSAG had examined a publication by the Daily Graphic in which the Secretary General of the TUC veered into raising salaries to reflect inflation rate.
He further said that CLOGSAG was focused on channelling its activities for the common good of its members as a registered union which had the right to do as such.
Mr Addo also indicated that the threat of nationwide strike by TUC was in contradiction with a declaration made and signed without his consent by the Congress in March this year.
In the declaration by the TUC, it called for improved co-ordination between the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Ministry of Finance and all other relevant agencies to determine clearly annual wage basket allowed for negotiations.
He said per the declaration made by TUC, there was a limit to the quantum of money for negotiation which would be determined by the FWSC and MoF, adding “considering the period for the 2023 salary negotiations that would form part of 2023 Budget Statement, these expectations are unattainable.”
Mr Addo, therefore, advised the TUC to engage government on the negotiation table for their issues to be addressed.
BY BENJAMIN ARCTON-TETTEY
