Rescind premature strike - Fair Wages to CLOGSAG

The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has urged the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOSGAG) to rescind its decision to embark on strike and return to the negotiating table for a timely resolution of their concerns.

The commission emphasised that the government was prepared to engage CLOGSAG in finding a lasting solution to its demands without undermining the principles underpinning the Single Spine Pay Policy.

Last Monday,CLOSGAG,in a press release,called on its members to embark on a nationwide strike effective tomorrow (Thursday,November 7,2024), citing the government’s failure to
complete a new salary structure and conditions of service.

However,in a statement issued by the Public Affairs Unit of the commission,the demand by CLOGSAG for a new salary structure and other conditions of service was initially submitted to the Office of the Senior Presidential Advisor for consideration and approval.

It said the Senior Presidential Advisor constituted a technical committee comprised of representatives from the government and CLOGSAG to discuss the proposal. 

“It must be noted that in a communique dated July 12,2024, issued by CLOGSAG,the Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG indicated that ‘The Parties (i.e.Government Team and CLOGSAG)
showed commitment towards the resolution of pertinent issues relating to the salary structure for the staff of the Civil Service and the Local Government Service.” 

The release said the government had been exploring alternative ways of addressing the demand for a new salary structure by CLOGSAG without injuring the existing pay policy.

The FWSC said that was being done guided by the principles governing the negotiation of Base Pay and the High Court Ruling barring CLOGSAG from opting out of the Single Spine Pay
Policy,“Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana Vrs National Labour Commission and Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (Suit No.

HRCM.76/11), delivered on April 22, 2011”. Ongoing discussions The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission said while discussion by the Technical Committee with CLOGSAG was ongoing, the association on October 22,2024, issued a notice to embark on strike, indicating that “several meetings had been held on the matter without any firm offer from the government side.”

“It is instructive to note that in a meeting held on October 30,2024, the Government Team made an alternative proposal aimed at addressing the concerns of CLOGSAG which they requested the team to put into writing,” the commission averred.

The FWSC said being committed to the process,the government team confirmed the alternative proposal in writing as demanded by CLOGSAG on the same day. “CLOGSAG is yet to respond to the government’s proposal.It is,therefore, surprising to see a notice issued by CLOGSAG to embark on strike when discussions have not reached a
deadlock,” the commission stated.

A charge 

The commission accused CLOGSAG of being aware of the FWSC’s mandate but deliberately decided to undermine it by channelling its demands through the Office of the Senior Presidential Advisor for approval, contrary to Section 2 of the FWSC Act 2007 (Act 737).

“A case in point is when CLOGSAG decided to opt out of the Single Spine Pay Policy by going to court in 2011 (in the case indicated above) but lost the
case.

“We observe that it is CLOGSAG’s strategy to achieve its objective of opting out of the Single Spine Pay Policy,that is why it has adopted various tactics, including the demand for a new salary structure,” the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission stressed