The Chairman of the forum, Isaac Bampoe-Addo, said “the forum has resolved to suspend temporarily the intended 29^th September 2017 indefinite nationwide strike action communicated earlier through our press release while the joint sectional committee completes its work.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”a07RMMJSLUWrNFYkMMsIAEEqs00rS9eT”]”The forum calls on all members to remain calm. We take this opportunity to salute the courage and resolve of our members in this dear period,” Mr. Bampoe-Addo added.

The strike was to protest government’s handling of their Tier-2 pension contributions.

The unions were demanding that their pension contributions spanning 2010 to 2016, be transferred to their custodian banks rather than being kept in their temporary pensions account where it accrues no interest.

The unions included the Ghana Medical Association, the Civil and Local Government Staff Association (CLOGSAG) and the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT).

In 2014, the labour unions laid down their tools to make similar demands and were sued by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to end the strike that, which resulted in the partial or complete shutdown of most public institutions.

They challenged the Finance Ministry’s decision to use Pension Alliance Trust as a sole trustee of the second tier pension scheme for all employees on government payroll.

–

By: Kojo Agyeman/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Labour unions call off intended strike over tier-2 pension appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The strike is to protest government’s handling of their tier-2 pension contributions.

The unions include the Ghana Medical Association, the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, CLOGSAG and the Ghana National Association of Teachers, GNAT.

[contextly_sidebar id=”VT6k5oVkLTwlYlvd02JI7lRsqbUTYukf”]The unions are demanding that their pension contributions spanning 2010 to 2016, be transferred to their custodian banks rather than being kept in a temporary pensions account where it accrues no interests.

In July this year, the Public Relations Officer of CLOGSAG, one of the striking unions, Edmund Acquaye, threatened the union will take a critical action against government if their monies were not paid.

“We are asking the government to pay the monies that have been accrued by the Bank of Ghana that is in the temporary pensions account. What we are saying is that, since 2010 to 2016, contributors’ money have been kept at the Bank of Ghana which is yielding no interest,” he said.

Brouhaha over 2nd-tier pension: Govt sues striking unions

In 2014, the labour unions laid down their tools to make similar demands, and were sued by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), government, to end the strike that resulted in the partial or complete shutdown of most public institutions.

They challenged the Finance Ministry’s decision to use Pension Alliance Trust as a sole trustee of the second tier pension scheme for all employees on government payroll.

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Labour unions threaten strike over tier-2 pension appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The day is set aside to recognize and celebrate the contribution of Ghanaian workers to nation building.

The President, Nana Akufo-Addo will be the special guest of honour at this year’s national celebration which is being held at the Independence Square in Accra.

The theme for this year’s celebration is, “Ghana @ 60: Mobilising Ghana’s Future through the creation of Decent Jobs.”

Separate parades will be held in other parts of the country to mark the day.

During such parades, the various workers’ unions march with placards bearing various messages commending colleagues and conveying messages of their expectation of government.

The occasion also presents the opportunity to some disgruntled labour unions to express their discontent with government’s handling of issues such as their salaries and conditions of service.

Trade unionism in Ghana

The Trade Union Ordinance of 1941 was enacted by the British colonialists to legalise the formation of trade unions in the country. The move was to avoid the kind of labour struggles that had accompanied the industrial revolution in Europe and elsewhere.

Prior to that, however, the first industrial action had occurred in the country in 1919 when miners embarked on a strike to press home their demand for better wages.

Permanent organisations such as the Gold and Silver Smith’s Association, the Colony and Ashanti Motor Union and the Carpenters and Masons Union were all founded in the 1920s.

In 1954, the Gold Coast Trades Union Congress (TUC) was founded, with an initial membership of 6,030 and 14 affiliates. It was an appendage of the ruling Convention People’s Party (CPP).

By 1957, splinter groups had developed in the country, many of them being much more militant than the TUC.

In order to “clip their wings” and strengthen the TUC, the CPP government passed the Industrial Relations Act of 1958, a move which gave legal recognition to the TUC.

The 1966 coup was welcomed by many who were discontent with the TUC’s loyalty to the government. The new military government repealed the compulsory TUC membership for civil servants, a move which made the TUC shrink from 700,000 to 300,000 members.

The years 1966 to 1969 witnessed many strikes, leading to sour relationships between labour and government.

In 1969, when Kofi Abrefa Busia came to power, he expressed his support for the existence of a “free and independent labour movement”  but the relationship was soon to deteriorate.

Following heavy inflation, the TUC called on the Busia administration to raise salaries, a call the government refused to heed. To make matters worse, it introduced a development levy, which was a new tax on all workers.

Angered by Busia’s move, the workers and the TUC criticised the government heavily.

Busia, in a bid to show workers “where power lies,” amended the 1958 Industrial Relations Act in September 1971, dissolving the TUC and freezing all its assets. The move shocked the nation.

It was not until Gen Ignatius Kutu Acheampong assumed office that the TUC was restored.

When the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) came to power in 1981, it sought co-operation with the TUC but it did not receive the support it wanted. It embarked on a series of actions which clearly pointed to the fact that it wanted to undermine the TUC. For example, it established the People’s and Workers Defence Committees parallel to the existing TUC structures. Other actions soured the relationship further.

After democratic rule was restored, the relationship improved.

In 1999, the Ghana Federation of Labour was formed as an umbrella organisation for independent trade unions. In 2003, a tripartite National Labour Commission (NLC) was created to help resolve disputes.

Labour agitations

Every year, the government is confronted with numerous labour agitations over major concerns such as delayed and non-payment of salaries, poor conditions of service among others.

Labour unions such as the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), the Federation of Universities Senior Staff Association (FUSSAG) have embarked on various industrial actions seeking their welfare.

Although such grievances have not always been fully addressed by government, it [government] have always sought to negotiate with the unions to avoid chaos on the labour front.

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ghanaian workers mark May Day with parade appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Twelve labour consisting of the Ghana Medical Association, the Ghana National Association of Teachers, the Civil and Local Government Staff Association among others, laid down their tools, fighting the erstwhile Mahama-government to pay up, after several years of negotiations.

But speaking to Citi News, the Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG, Dr. Isaac Bampoe-Addo, said after pleas to the Akufo-Addo government, payment has commenced to their custodian banks as expected.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Z7LzVb0eE4BihCDGbGyzZioZByn1Coyg”]“Currently, all our monthly contributions are being paid to our custodian banks which is a good sign and we are very grateful for that. What is left to be handled is the outstanding arrears which is about 18-months that has not being paid; but currently all contributions since December to January has been paid to our custodian banks,” he said.

“We are happy with what is happening now and we think if it goes on, the arrears will be cleared. It is fair that once we have arrears of 18 months, ours is paid first before others are paid,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Deputy General secretary of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr. Justice Yankson, whoconfirmed the payment to their members, said the former government had also commenced paying of their arrears but some amounts are still outstanding.

“The monies that had been deducted from January 2010 to August 2016 is still outstanding. As we speak, those funds are yet to be transferred to the various schemes. We are looking at something within GH¢3.5 billion to 4 billion. We need to audit those funds carefully to ensure that every worker is assigned his or her contribution and the interest.”

The Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffuor-Awuah, during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee said he will collaborate with relevant agencies including the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA), to investigate the cause of the delay in the payment of the tier two pension allowances, and ensure the contributions are paid to avert labour union strikes over the matter.

Although the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) government said it had begun working to pay all arrears to the labour unions, it could not satisfy the demands of the labour unions before leaving office earlier this year.

Labour unions strike

Public sector workers in the past embarked on strike over the non-payment of the tier two pension contributions to their respective fund managers.

After the last protest, the Chairman of the Forum of Public Sector Labour Unions and Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG, Dr. Isaac Bampoe, told Citi News, that workers want their second tier pension contributions to be transferred to their custodian banks.

According to him, there was the need for accurate data on all public sector workers to get government to pay back all monies owed the workers.

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @jnyabor

The post Gov’t begins payment of tier 2 pension contributions appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

With less than three months to the December polls, a number of labour unions including the Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA), Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG), and recently staff of the Electoral Commission, have intensified demands for increased salaries and allowances owed them.

But the Head of Public Affairs for the commission, Earl Ankrah, says his outfit cannot yield to all these demands.

“Most of these demands are not consistent with the way the policy works. When you talk to GHOSPA, they will tell you they are not enjoying interim market premium…and for seven years they have been going back and forth and nothing has been happening. That is not true. GHOSPA is enjoying interim market premium. The issue with their market premium is when they compare theirs with others. So it is not about what is on their plate before them. It is about what they are seeing on someone else’s plate…”

According to him, some labour unions still have challenges with the payment of their market premiums because they have failed to go through the right procedures to have their concerns addressed.

He therefore asked the unions to use the appropriate procedures by channeling their concerns to the National Labour Commission.

“We are not supposed to take decisions based on these ultimatums.. If you are not happy with Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, there are processes you have to go through; you take your case to the National Labour Commission, they will listen to both sides and take a decision; but unfortunately those procedures are not followed religiously.”

Last year, President John Mahama told striking doctors he would not yield to their demands , warning it would open the flood gates for other public sector workers to make similar financial demands, a situation he believes the economy could not sustain.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post We won’t bow to pressure from labour unions – FWSC appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.