Don’t Strike; Government Is Addressing Your Concerns- Haruna Tells CLOGSAG & Unpaid Teachers

The Minister of Employment and Labour relations, Hon Haruna Iddrisu has appealed to the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) and the Unpaid Teachers and Education workers to rescind on their decision to embark on an industrial action as government is working to address their concerns.

The two Workers’ Union had earlier this year threatened to strike nationwide to drum home their demands.

In the case of CLOGSAG, government has paid interim premiums to other category of workers in the country but has failed to extend the payments to their members hence decision to lay down their tools. They have also chastised a committee charged to work on market premiums, for recommending their exclusion from receiving market premiums.

Whilst the Unpaid Teachers and Education workers are demanding government to pay 3000 of its members their three month’s salary arrears otherwise resort to strike. According to the teachers, government has refused to pay them despite several agitations to get these monies paid.

According to the General Secretary of the group, Isaac Amponsah they were told that the auditors had presented a report to the Finance Ministry for clearance but they still remained unpaid.

But speaking to the media to the media on Tuesday, Mr. Iddrisu said government is doing its best to maintain the industrial tranquility in the country whilst they resolve the existing impasse of the two unions.

“Government is doing everything possible to maintain the serenity of the industrial atmosphere in the country and to maintain industrial peace and harmony even as we address the legitimate concerns of the two different major categories of workers in the country.” the Labour Minister said.  

He also indicated that the subcommittee assessing the market premium relative to all categories of workers will be engaging CLOGSAG this week to reach a middle grounds after which the reports will be submitted for government consideration.

In respect to the unpaid teachers, Mr. Harruna Iddrisu said the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations met the four teacher unions in the country and have agreed on a road map to get the outstanding issues resolved.

The Labour Minister also said the teachers whose documents have been validated have been forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for onward payment through the Controller and Accountant Generals Department.

 “However there is a huge workload which is being worked on in regions of 60 to 90,000 and we have agreed on how to get that validated.”  Iddrisu indicated.

Mr. Haruna Iddrisu therefore assured the two unions government will resolve their concerns in the shortest possible time.

By: Emmanuel Dzivenu/ Radio Univers