Minister urges striking pharmacists to return to work
The Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, has urged members of the Ghana Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) to resume work while they continue with their negotiations with the government over the review of their salary structure.
Advertisement
“Government cannot negotiate with you if you continue to remain on strike while precious lives are being lost,” he indicated.
“I therefore want to appeal to all members of GHOSPA to resume work so that the government can have meaningful negotiations with you,” the minister further admonished.
Mr Iddrisu was speaking at a press conference in Accra last Tuesday as part of efforts to address concerns of the workers.
Strike action
Pharmacists in government hospitals have been on a partial strike since last Tuesday to press home their demand for fair treatment.
The pharmacists, about 600 across the country, are demanding that their salary grade structure, interim market premium and conditions of service be reviewed by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC).
According to them, ever since the inception of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) seven years ago, pharmacists in government hospitals have been receiving lower salaries than their counterparts in other quasi-government institutions such as the Legon Hospital and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).
Commitment
Mr Iddrissu said the government was committed to engaging members of GHOSPA in negotiations but it could only do so if they resumed work.
“It is unfair labour practice for workers to remain on strike and expect their demands to be met,” he said.
The minister, however, stated that, subject to the negotiations, concerns expressed by the pharmacists could be considered and captured in next year’s budget.
