Labour Minister Haruna Iddrisu has played down a planned strike by the Judicial Service Workers Association of Ghana (JUSSAG) which is expected to begin Friday April 1, 2016.
Mr Iddrisu says the strike action will be "moot" if the judicial service workers apprise themselves of the efforts and negotiations that have gone on in an attempt to resolve salary discrepancies.
There was a thunderous shout of jubilation, by the workers of the Judicial Service Thursday, when their president, Alex Nartey announced the strike action.
Mr Nartey, among other things, lamented government's delays in payment of salary arrears.
He also bemoaned what he believed was government's lack of commitment in addressing their grievances.
"National Executive Council (NEC) of JUSAG has decided as follows; that government's letter to the Chief Justice is just an attempt to delay the implementation of the approved salaries and we don't agree.
"The disheartening aspect of the whole thing is the fact that the document was submitted to government as far back as June 2015. Government acknowledged receipt of the document in July. Between that period and now we thought that if government was minded of listening to us [it would have taken action]," Mr Nartey said.
As a result of the delays, the president of the Association further declared "NEC directs the immediate withdrawal of services by all staff of the Judicial Service from 1st April 2016." He said the strike will be in force until demands are met.
A private legal practitioner Yaw Oppong said the repercussions of the strike will be dire if it is allowed to go on.
He said the effect of the strike will be even more devastating on Monday.
According to him, all activities at the court will be grounded to a halt if the strike takes place and that will be a violation of the rights of persons who may be requesting for bail or will be expecting a quick justice delivery.
"It won't be pleasant," he said.
But the Labour Minister Haruna Iddrisu in an interview with Joy FM allayed any fears of a strike action.
He said the president on March 16, 2016 directed a five member committee to be chaired by the Finance Minister and made up of an Appeals Court judge, a representative of the Attorney General's Office as well as Employment ministry to commence negotiations on the conditions of service of the judicial service workers.
He said subsequently the Judicial workers were informed through a letter to negotiate with the committee adding, "in my view, their action if they receive that letter will be a moot action."
He said the key factor in salary negotiations is the ability to pay so it is important for the judicial workers to meet with the committee to negotiate on what is acceptable to all.
The Minister has met with the aggrieved workers but will not disclose the outcome of the meeting.
When he was asked if the strike will take place on Friday, the minister said: "The wheels of justice will run and it will run effectively. When they do receive the president's correspondence for negotiations they must get to work and let the wheels of justice run."
No comments:
Post a Comment