Government is set to meet with the leadership of the striking Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSSAG), Employment and Labour Relations Minister, has disclosed.
Haruna Iddrisu said the meeting will afford government the opportunity to inform JUSSAG leadership about actions taken to address the protracted salary disputes. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 24,
JUSSAG declared an indefinite strike on May 20 over the failure of government to implement the consolidation of salaries and allowances recommended by the Judicial Council for its members.
The strike has hampered justice delivery across the country as police prosecutors, litigants, and lawyers have been left disillusioned whilst the Supreme Court, the court complex and other courts have been locked, bringing judiciary services to a grand halt.
This is the longest strike declared by the Association after series of two brief strikes earlier in 2016.
Deputy Employment Minister, Baba Jamal on Friday, May 20 said the strike by Judicial Service staff is an unfair attempt to put fear into a government that has an election to win.
He said it baffles him why employees should embark on a strike fully aware it is illegal except to make government unpopular.
The National Labour Commission (NLC) condemned the strike calling it unlawful. It said the Association failed to respect the Labour laws of the country and threatened to resort to the court to instil sanity into the Association.
However, the President of JUSSAG has said the Association is not meeting government over negotiations but on the implementation of the recommendation of the Judicial Council.
Speaking to Joy News ahead of the meeting, Mr. Iddrisu said the concerns of the Association could only be addressed during dialogue and entreated the leadership to “respect and honour our invitation.”
According to him, it is important for the Association to learn to follow due process in its dealings with government.
Touching on steps taken to address the grievances of the Association, Mr Iddrisu said because the salary of the judicial service workers are linked to that of the lower courts, once the court’s consolidated salary and conditions of service are approved, those of JUSSAG would also be approved.
“This is a work in progress and the Office of the President is facilitating that,” he added.
The outcome of the current indefinite strike of the Association would be dependent on the outcome of the meeting.
