Members of the Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives have declared an indefinite strike to back their demands for the payment of all salary and outstanding arrears for the past three years.
These nurses work in regional and all the major government hospitals across the country.
[contextly_sidebar id=”0VrQskAjROGe31BDySIwUfl73McaAQPX”]The strike will take effect from today [Monday].
This is the third group of nurses to declare strike in two weeks.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Saturday , the Spokesperson of the group, Douglas Adu Fokuo said they are not convinced by the promises made by the Minister of Employment and until the monies are paid, the over seven thousand nurses will stay off work.
“After several deliberations and our persistent patience to receive these monies, our government and authorities failed us.The promises they gave us and the reassurances were not implemented hence the leadership and entire membership of the coalition have come to the cross road where going back to the workplace is an impossibility until all our standing arrears are paid.
“We hereby declare an indefinite strike from Monday 5, October, 2015. We will swiftly return to work when all of us receive messages that there is payment,” Douglas stated.
In a related development, nurses at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital have also rejected government’s call on them to return to the work after they embarked on an indefinite strike over unpaid salaries.
Speaking to Citi News, spokesperson for the nurses, Emmanuel Feberi said they will not be in the best of mind to work if they return without their monies.
“…I think it is better for nurses to stay home, just have their peace of mind, then when everything is paid,….they can go back and …take care of the patient….”
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By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah