Various government and public offices across the country were virtually empty yesterday as members of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) begun an indefinite strike.
The Association declared the strike on Tuesday to press home their demand on the government to implement the proposed new salary structure approved by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) after one and a half years since a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was reached.
The industrial action took effect despite summons by the National Labour Commission (NLC) requesting the CLOGSAG leadership, FWSC, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations and other parties to a meeting yesterday to deliberate on the issue.
Meanwhile, the NLC has directed the leadership of the CLOGSAG to call off the strike although they did not honour the Commission’s invitation to the meeting with the other stakeholders.
Checks by the Ghanaian Times indicate that members of the public who had gone to the offices to transact business were left stranded as there were no officers to attend to their needs.
Work at the offices at the Registrar-General’s Department where essential services, including marriage registration and business renewals, are done remained closed.
Members of CLOGSAG at the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly were not left out of the strike as they stayed home.
The story was the same at various offices in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, including Rent Control Office, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly as they were shut to customers.
Briefing the journalists after 30 minutes wait for the CLOGSAG, the Executive Secretary of the FWSC, Ofosu Asamoah, said the strike was illegal and asked them to resume work.
He said the Commission would invite the CLOGSAG to another meeting on Tuesday towards resolution of the matter.
Present at the meeting were Head of FWSC, Ben Arthur; the Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Festus Awuah Kwofie, the Technical Advisor to the Employment and Labour Minister, Bright Wireko-Brobby.
Declaring the strike on Tuesday, the Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG, Isaac Bampoe Addo, said all of its members should abide by the directive until the government met their demands.
“Indicating our intentions to proceed on a nationwide strike if the new salary structure for the staff of the Civil Service and Local Government Service was not implemented, we hereby declare a nationwide strike with effect from Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
“All staff of the Civil Service and Local Government Service are to stay away from work until further notice. Similarly, all CLOGSAG secretarial offices must be closed. Kindly take note and comply accordingly,” he said.
BY ANITA
NYARKO- YIRENKYI
