The Minister of Employment and Social Welfare has appealed to the Civil and Local Government Staff Association (CLOGSAG) to rescind its unilateral withdrawal from salary negotiations involving it and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission currently being handled by the National Labour Commission.
The association has threatened to embark on a nation-wide industrial action if its demand for a right to negotiate independently for its members is not met.
Indeed, it has asked its members throughout the country to wear red arm-bands to indicate the seriousness they attach to their demands.
The Ghanaian Times appreciates the awkward position in which the government finds itself in the matter. To be seen to be pushing too hard to get GLOSSAG to change its mind may be taken as interference in labour affairs.
The Minister gave voice to this awkward stance when he conceded that “neither the government nor any of its agencies will interfere with the work of the National Labour Commission.”
While we agree that on such matters, government must act with circumspection in order to show the whole world that its actions are above board, the Times thinks that its decision to call the press to launch an appeal to the aggrieved civil servants has come a shade late.
As far back as the beginning of this year, even the most cursory observers of the labour scene in Ghana could predict the impasse between the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the Civil and Local Government Staff Association: they have been raising their red flag for that long.
That was when we expected the government to start working on the situation. Granted, the law bars the government from interfering in labour matters; that responsibility has been entrusted into the hands of the National Labour Commission.
However, while we did not expect the Ministry of Employment to start ordering GLOSSAG executive around or issuing threats, we felt that the Minister’s appeal should have been issued months ago.
What we had expected was what every government, since the First Republic when labour matters come to a head : that is, call the leadership to a meeting and reason with them to shift their position.
Why this was not done still beats our imagination. We are even more surprised that the minister’s appeal to the association was routed through the media. In the wisdom of the elders of this country, there is no issue which cannot be jaw-jawed.
A few days hence, the single spine salary structure comes into effect.
The July deadline was a pledge given to workers of this country by the President. As matters stand now, it is doubtful that there will be an incident-free launch of this major economic policy of the government.
The Times believes there has been much ado about nothing. Between the Fair Wages Commission and the GLOSSAG, we have witnessed nothing but muscle-flexing.
It has led this nation nowhere, and all of us stand to rue it.
The time has come for more quiet settlement of issues, with each side ready to give a little to take a lot. This advice goes as much to the Fair Wages team as to GLOSSAG.
Much as we concede that the association is fighting the cause of its members for improved salaries – which is a life-and-death issue - we think that entrenched inflexibility will hurt not mend.
If the National Labour Commission’s neutrality and fairness cannot be trusted, then what next?
We insist that flexing of muscle only produces machos for ‘Mr Ghana’ contests, not enduring policies.
The association has threatened to embark on a nation-wide industrial action if its demand for a right to negotiate independently for its members is not met.
Indeed, it has asked its members throughout the country to wear red arm-bands to indicate the seriousness they attach to their demands.
The Ghanaian Times appreciates the awkward position in which the government finds itself in the matter. To be seen to be pushing too hard to get GLOSSAG to change its mind may be taken as interference in labour affairs.
The Minister gave voice to this awkward stance when he conceded that “neither the government nor any of its agencies will interfere with the work of the National Labour Commission.”
While we agree that on such matters, government must act with circumspection in order to show the whole world that its actions are above board, the Times thinks that its decision to call the press to launch an appeal to the aggrieved civil servants has come a shade late.
As far back as the beginning of this year, even the most cursory observers of the labour scene in Ghana could predict the impasse between the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the Civil and Local Government Staff Association: they have been raising their red flag for that long.
That was when we expected the government to start working on the situation. Granted, the law bars the government from interfering in labour matters; that responsibility has been entrusted into the hands of the National Labour Commission.
However, while we did not expect the Ministry of Employment to start ordering GLOSSAG executive around or issuing threats, we felt that the Minister’s appeal should have been issued months ago.
What we had expected was what every government, since the First Republic when labour matters come to a head : that is, call the leadership to a meeting and reason with them to shift their position.
Why this was not done still beats our imagination. We are even more surprised that the minister’s appeal to the association was routed through the media. In the wisdom of the elders of this country, there is no issue which cannot be jaw-jawed.
A few days hence, the single spine salary structure comes into effect.
The July deadline was a pledge given to workers of this country by the President. As matters stand now, it is doubtful that there will be an incident-free launch of this major economic policy of the government.
The Times believes there has been much ado about nothing. Between the Fair Wages Commission and the GLOSSAG, we have witnessed nothing but muscle-flexing.
It has led this nation nowhere, and all of us stand to rue it.
The time has come for more quiet settlement of issues, with each side ready to give a little to take a lot. This advice goes as much to the Fair Wages team as to GLOSSAG.
Much as we concede that the association is fighting the cause of its members for improved salaries – which is a life-and-death issue - we think that entrenched inflexibility will hurt not mend.
If the National Labour Commission’s neutrality and fairness cannot be trusted, then what next?
We insist that flexing of muscle only produces machos for ‘Mr Ghana’ contests, not enduring policies.
