Members of the Teachers Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) of the College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana Medical School at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital have threatened an indefinite strike.
According to them, if the management of the college does not pay their market premium owed them since 2013; they will lay down their tools.
The TEWU members say the premium, which is an allowance for staff calculated according to basic salary has not been paid despite a series of meetings with the management and directive for from the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC).
The Korle Bu branch of TEWU is also accusing the management of playing delay tactics “which is creating problems on behalf of the government.”
Speaking on Eyewitness News, the general secretary for the group, Dominic Gyamfi said the directive from the FWSC ordered the school to pay nurses the full 100% of their market premium “but the management only gave them 40%.”
He said the authorities are undertaking selective payment of staff “but this is unfair.”
“You cannot use your personal interpretation of the letter sent by the Fair Wages to select some people and pay them,” he stressed.
Mr. Gyamfi indicated that TEWU had earlier planned to lay their down tools in June but rather gave the authorities an ultimatum which expired on July 8; hence, the decision to strike.
“Come tomorrow, we are going to declare an indefinite industrial action not until this premium is paid; we are not going to work. Our eyes are red!”
If the strike is declared on Thursday, the operations of the College of Health Sciences will grind to a halt as all supporting staff come under the umbrella of TEWU.
They are made up of library assistants, accountants, nurses, drivers and laboratory assistants.
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @osamidan