The Public Services Workers Union (PSWU), is the latest joiner on government to demand of 20 per cent Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) for its members.
The COLA, according to PSWU would go a long way to ameliorate the economic hardship currently faced by its members on their basic salaries.
Four teacher unions, namely, Ghana national Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Tertiary Education Workers Union (TEWU) and the Coalition of Concern Teachers Ghana (CCTG) have laid down their tools for failure on the part of government to meet their demand.
The Deputy General Secretary of PSWU, MrJohn Sampah, speaking in an interview on Accra based JoyNews station yesterday said members of the PSWU would be compelled to follow suit by next Tuesday, July 19, 2022, if government did not meet their demand.
Mr Sampah explained that considering the worsening economic challenges including rising cost of living, inflation, increase in utility tariffs, food prices, transportation cost, members of the PSWU have no option but to draw attention to their economic wellbeing.
Giving further explanations on the issues of strike, he stated that government has to be sincere and immediately address issues of strikes to resolve all institutional issues.
“We all want our part of the national cake, if one labour group or institution is resolved and the others are not, the strikes would continue so government must have solutions to all groups,” he said.
When asked if the institution would give room for negotiations with government on the COLA during the interview, Mr Sampah said before there would be such an agreement, they would have to consider if previous promises of government have been duly fulfilled.
“We would have to assess the situation very well before further agreements with government is made because government so far have not kept to a number of promises and this time we cannot risk ourselves”
“Negotiations must be made with clear minds and in good faith and PSWU is committed in doing that,” he added.
However, he assured that if government came with sincerity and tangible solutions with deadlines then all organised labour would put their thoughts together to resolve the challenges collectively.
Mr Sampah stressed that, if the country was in crisis and wanted to go to International Monetary Fund (IMF) there were a number of things that could be done.
As workers would not agree to always sacrifice their interest whereas authorities who manage the economy have never sacrifice their own interest.
“Government needs to sit to restructure their priorities and policies if we are in crisis, there are things that government is in a hurry to do which does not apply to other matters,”
“Currently going for the IMF programme would only compound the situation, and not solve our economic issues” he stated.
BY ANITA ANKRAH
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