The National Labour Commission (NLC) has sued members of the Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) at the Labour Division of the High Court seeking to compel the group to call off its strike.
GHOSPA declared an indefinite strike in protest to what its members describe as persistent acts of injustice, unfairness and deliberate delay by the National Labour Commission (NLC) and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to address outstanding issues relating to their Interim Market Premium, Grade Structure and Placement, and Conditions of Service of members.
The NLC suit against GHOSPA comes days after striking biomedical laboratory scientists were forced to call off a two-week nationwide industrial action through a similar suit.
Although the NLC has not declared the strike illegal, it argues that it is not in the interest of the ordinary Ghanaian.
Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of GHOSPA Agyemang Manu told Class News his members were unhappy with how the government had handled their issues.
“…We have not heard anything from government. Not at all, and you know we are essential service workers. …Is that the pace to address essential service workers’ issue when even the law says it must be resolved in a maximum of 14 days and this thing has been there for six years? …A petition has been [served] to embark on this strike and now it is [ongoing] and nothing from the government. Who cares about the people? We made it clear that they know our case. We declare strike and 24 hours we have not heard from them. Then maybe we should clap for the government for the way it is addressing this issue,” Mr Manu stated.
Confirming the legal action, the Executive Secretary of the NLC, Charles Adongo Bawa Duah told Accra-based Citi FM: “We have filed a motion at the High Court, Labour Division, to get a court order to get them to resume work immediately… Even though every worker is justified in pressuring the employer for better conditions of service and higher remuneration, they should also take note that they have a responsibility to ensure that people do not die needless deaths.”
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
