Members of the Government Hospital Pharmacist Association (GHOSPA), have threatened a nationwide strike to press home demands for their market premiums.
Government is currently saddled with a strike from the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG), and the GHOSPA has said it is “tired of government’s attitude towards addressing issues pertaining to public sector pharmacists.”
The last time GHOSPA went on strike, in August 2015, it was over unresolved issues with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), about conversion differences after migration unto the Single Spine Salary Structure.
[contextly_sidebar id=”2zEarpEnnM5dvDbH53tCo5DMu04qLR8u”]GHOSPA’s National Secretary, Emmanuel Nana Wiafe, outlined his union’s demands to Citi News.
“We want finality to be brought on issues pertaining to our interim market premium, issues concerning our grade structure and placement. We want a completion of our conditions of service negotiations for our members.”
He noted that “as a law abiding association, we will serve the appropriate notices to the National Labour Commission and we will copy the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Employment and give them the appropriate seven-day notice.”
“If by the middle of next week [starting August 22], by which the seven-day period would have been exhausted, then we will embark on the strike as our members have voted for,” Mr. Wiafe warned.
Earlier GHOSPA statement
GHOSPA, in an earlier statement, said it was “facing serious difficulties in concluding negotiations for Conditions of Service for pharmacists in the public sector.”
It indicated that its petition to the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission regarding existing and new grade structure for pharmacists, as well as the existing issues pertaining to their interim market premium “which has traveled over six (6) years remains unresolved.”
GHOSPA therefore called on the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, and the National Labour Commission to resolve these challenges or face their wrath.
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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana