Government pharmacists express worry over slow NLC arbitration process

The Northern Regional branch of the Government and Hospital Pharmacist Association (GHOSPA) has appealed to the National Labour Commission (NLC) to expedite action on the matter between GHOSPA and the Fair Wages and Salary Commission (FWSC).

“We will like to express our dissatisfaction about the inordinate delays in passing a final judgment on the issues of market premium and grading structure”.

These were contained in a press release issued in Tamale on Monday and signed by Mr. Frank Kumi, Spokesperson of GHOSPA, Northern Regional Branch.

It would be recalled that a nationwide industrial action embarked upon by the members of GHOSPA had to be called off on 24th September, 2012, due to a compulsory arbitration process ordered by the NLC.

The statement said arbitration process which was meant to be a final resolution step between both parties was rescheduled to 10th October, 2012, on grounds that the quorum required of the empanelling of the NLC to pass a final judgment had not been achieved adding ‘NLC again postponed the date of final ruling to 17th October, 2012’.

“Whiles making the NLC aware that we the Northern Region members of GHOSPA are trying to comprehend the convoluted legal process needed to resolve this longstanding issue between GHOSPA and FWSC, we will also like to express our dissatisfaction about the inordinate delays in passing a final judgment on the issues of market premium and grading structure”, it said.

It expressed optimisim that a fair judgment on the issues brought before the NLC shall be finally pass on the set date of 17th October, 2012, in order to avert any preventable future disruption on the labour front.

Source: GNA