Health services workers demand better conditions; give government two weeks ultimatum
The Health Services Workers’ Union (HSWU) has given the government a two-week ultimatum to address their concerns or face their wrath.
The Association says the government has for the past seven years discriminated against its members by failing to upgrade their salaries and conditions of service.
At a news conference, the Deputy General Secretary of the Association, Franklin Owusu Ansah said the unresolved issues have affected the performance of staff.
“As a responsible and peaceful union, we have always resorted to dialoguing instead of taking vehement steps that disrupt the congenial industrial relations atmosphere. However, we have deduced that management has taken our disposition to be our weakness, hence the treatment being meted out to us. It has been observed without any modicum of doubt that our employers have taken the Union for granted despite our efforts to adhere to all procedures required in resolving our grievances.”
Key concerns
Some other concerns of the Union are the selective implementation of the collective agreement, payment of market premium based on their current monthly basic salary, salary distortion under the Single Spine Salary Structure, non-implementation of National Health Laboratory Policies, no increment in credits, upgrade of three-level grades to four.
The Union further argued that it, signed a Collective Agreement with the government to take effect from January 2016, however, the government has failed to implement it.
“This situation has become very frustrating and as a matter of urgency, we call on the appropriate stakeholders to intervene”, Mr. Ansah added.
HSWU is a Trade Union Organization within the Health Sector in Ghana.
It is registered by Law and holds a collective Bargaining Certificate (CBC) that empowers it to do negotiations and collective bargaining on behalf of its over 28000 membership.
It has also been registered with the Registrar General’s Department and holds a Certificate to Commence Business and a Certificate of Incorporation (can sue and be sued).