CLOGSAG on strike over market premium
Members of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) yesterday began an indefinite nationwide strike to back their demand for the government to pay them their interim market premium.
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They contended that since the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) in 2010, they had neither been paid their interim market premium nor migrated onto the permanent market premium.
Meanwhile, workers in the various sectors, including education and health, are currently enjoying the market premium.
Market premium
A market premium is essentially an absolute amount paid only to employees with critical skills in short supply, especially in the public service.
It is paid to attract and retain critical skills in short supply which have an overwhelming effect on the economy.
Visit
A visit by the Daily Graphic to some ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in Accra yesterday showed that majority of the workers were at post performing their usual duties, while others were seen around chatting.
At the ministries of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Lands and Natural Resources, Communications, Food and Agriculture, Trade and Industry, Justice and Attorney-General’s ((A-G’s) Department , Health and Local Government and Rural Development, it was observed that red flags had been hung at the entrances of the various offices.
On walls and other vantage points, workers had pasted red posters with the inscription: “Strike! Strike!! Strike!!! The fight for interim premium allowance is on from Wednesday, July 27, 2016. Stay home until further notice.”
At the Public Works Department (PWD), it was also observed that the main gate to the premises had red flags and posters cautioning members to stay at home.
Closed-door meeting
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG, Mr Isaac Bampoe Addo, stated that a meeting with the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Mr Haruna Iddrisu; representatives of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and other stakeholders yesterday did not yield any positive results.
He expressed disappointment at the meeting, saying that the leadership of CLOGSAG wanted to hear something positive.
“We were disappointed because we wanted the issues to be resolved since we threatened the strike long ago,” he said, noting that it was the reason the leadership of CLOGSAG delayed the action.
Mr Addo also called on the government to, as a matter of urgency, fully investigate a document purportedly written by the FWSC, claiming that members of CLOGSAG did not qualify for the market premium.
“We see this statement as provocative and inappropriate, to say the least, as far as the Civil and Local Government services are concerned and the government must do something quickly about this,” he said.
Closed office of CLOSAG
Members must comply
Meanwhile, Mr Addo urged members to comply with the directive, since they were all fighting for a good cause.
While admitting that it was not a compulsion, he said: “If you think that as a member you are feeling the pinch, then you must obey this directive.”
He indicated that the regional offices of the association had all complied with the directive.
KUMASI
From Kumasi, Daniel Kenu reports that the impact of the nationwide CLOGSAG strike was not felt in Kumasi and some parts of Obuasi, as some government workers reported for work, instead of going on strike.
A visit to some government departments and agencies, including the assemblies, especially the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), indicated that most of the junior staff refused to work, while their senior counterparts reported for work.
At the ministries at Adum, workers were actively working while other offices were closed.
Tamale
From Tamale, Samuel Duodu reports that work at the various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) and the MDAs in the Northern Region came to a standstill as members of CLOGSAG started their nationwide sit-down strike yesterday.
At the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, although members of CLOGSAG were in the offices, they said they were not working, while others said the information got to them late and they would ensure that the strike took effect today.
When the Daily Graphic caught up with the Northern Regional Secretary of CLOGSAG, Mr Yakubu Ibrahim Mahmi, who was monitoring the action at the Regional Coordinating Council, he said he was going round to ensure that the members complied fully with the strike.
Cape Coast
Shirley Asiedu-Addo reports from Cape Coast that civil servants in the Central Region joined their counterparts nationwide in the strike.
Some of the workers the Daily Graphic spoke to said although they had not been officially communicated to about the strike, they were in solidarity with the mother association in seeking their welfare.
At the Central Regional Coordinating Council, some of the workers who had come to work said they were not working.
“We came to work. We have now heard about the strike and we will join accordingly,” they said.
Civil servants in the Volta Region have complied with a nationwide strike declared over issues of non-paid allowances, reports Mary Anane from Ho.
Upon a visit to the Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council (VRCC), the Ho Municipal Assembly, as well as the various MDAs the Daily Graphic found that members of the association were not at post.
