STRIKE HARD AND THEY WOULD RESPOND- SURVIVAL THEORY

The recent reported cases of labour unrest in the country must be a source of worry to all Ghanaians as it has the potential to undermine the peace and stability the nation has and continues to enjoy. Anytime a group of workers decide to lay down their tools, in demand for enhanced conditions of service, it becomes difficult to quantify the financial and economic cost to the nation. Reference point is the on-going strike by members of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) that have embarked on an indefinite nationwide strike since Monday October 14. The effects of their strike actions cannot be over emphasized.

The retail price of sachet water from 10 pesewas to 15 pesewas, an increase of 50 per cent instead of 12 pesewas or 20 percent, on the open market, has received mixed reactions among citizens. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) and some civil society groups are up in arms against the government allowing increase in water and electricity tariffs for domestic and industrial and commercial users, saying that would be counterproductive. TUC says the recent tariff increases announced by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) are too high for Ghanaian workers to pay. The 18 unions under the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and major labour unions in both the public and private sector on Tuesday said they cannot pay the increased utility tariffs introduced recently.

Mr.  Kofi Asamoah, Secretary General of the TUC, who spoke on behalf of the Unions at a press conference in Accra said members were giving government a 10-working day ultimatum to slash the tariffs increases to one-third. Meanwhile members of the Tema District Council of Labour are backing calls by the Trades Union Congress for government to review downwards the utility tariffs, by the 22nd of this month or face their wrath. Hundreds of them embarked on a demonstration in Tema Thursday, to compel government to heed their demands.

Just few days ago the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) on Thursday suspended its month-long strike. TEWU embarked on strike early September to demand payment of arrears under the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS).  According to the Union the strike became necessary as a result of feet dragging by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission on the payment of the arrears despite several reminders by the National Labour Commission (NLC).

Undeniably there have also been cries from all corners of the country on economic hardship faced by citizens. The economic woes forced a 56 year old Victor Dagadu a resident of juaben municipality in the eastern region to commit suicide. The Ghana medical association says the current economic hardship in the country could trigger more suicides if government does not take appropriate steps to improve the living standards of the ordinary Ghanaians.

Government, realizing the ill-effects of industrial actions on the economy decided to introduce the Single Spine Salary Structure to address the problems of unfairness in the labour sector. Ever since the migration started, it appears it is creating more problems than it envisaged solving. The disparities within the wage and salary regimes continue to widen to an unimaginable level more especially, among people with equal academic qualifications who are rendering similar services.

What is the way forward? Should strikes and demonstration be the only way workers could submit their grievances to the government? Is fair wages actually fair?