CLOGSAG threatens to embark on strike
The Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) said its members would embark on a nationwide strike on October 14 if their demand for the 50 per cent premium was not met.
Addressing the leadership and members of CLOGSAG from the 13 municipalities and districts in the Upper East Region, Mr Isaac Bampoe Addo, Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG, described the intended strike as “the mother of all strikes in Ghana.”
He said the strike, which had been codified; “Enough is Enough,” would involve all the chief directors of the Civil Service, coordinating directors of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and staff among others.
He said the decision to embark on the nationwide strike, which he described as legal, was taken by the National Executive of CLOGSAG at a meeting which resolved that the strike should be carried out.
Mr Addo explained that they were forced to take that decision because all the channels to address their concerns had been exhausted.
He said on February 24, 2012, the Head of the Civil Service sent a preamble explaining that considering the significant role CLOGSAG played in the socio-economic development of the nation, it was good Government recognised and appreciated their efforts by paying them the 50 per cent premium.
Mr Addo said the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) failed to address the concerns put before it which led to the setting up of three committees by Government including the E.T Mensah, Moses Asaga and the Inter-Ministry Committees that recommended that the FWSC satisfied the demands of CLOGSAG.
He said earlier, voluntary arbitration was instituted by the stakeholders including the Labour Commission, FWSC and CLOGSAG to address the issue amicably but the FWSC withdrew from that move.
Mr Addo said during the President’s Sessional Address, he acknowledged the fact that the country had experienced some appreciable level of socio-economic growth and attributed it partly to the immense contribution of CLOGSAG.
“Whilst other workers including teachers have been given an incremental jump, we the members of CLOGSAG have been excluded. Even after drawing the attention of the FWSC to it, it still refused to listen to us. What have we done? Enough is enough,” he said.
He entreated all members of CLOGSAG not to entertain any fears when they were called on to embark on the strike saying “we must unite to fight for a common goal by laying down our tools and see how they can operate, particularly the politicians”.
Mr Ben Ayarige, Projects and Welfare Officer of CLOGSAG urged members to be bold and embark on the strike adding that the Labour Law was there to protect them.
Mr Paul Agoo, Regional Chairman of CLOGSAG, indicated that the National and Regional Executives would facilitate the process to ensure that members’ conditions of services were enhanced.
Source: GNA