Members of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) have declared an indefinite nationwide strike to press home their demand for the government to review their current salaries immediately.
JUSAG want their salary reviewed now and not in the year 2020 for implementation in 2021 as suggested by the government.
JUSAG, on 1 November 2019, served notice that it would embark on the industrial action if its members’ demands were not met.
According to their letter, the “current salaries of members of JUSAG was implemented in the year 2017 and to be renewed bi-annually. However, in the year 2017, the Ministry of Finance sought to cancel the payment of rent allowance to our members and after several protests, the Judicial Council, the government and the association resolved the issue in 2018 and for implementation in the year 2019”.
The letter of notice further stated that: “In 2019, the association wrote for the salary negotiations on 26 April 2019 and subsequenty served a reminder on 29 July 2019. On 1 October 2019, the Judicial Council, mandated to review our salaries and other salary-related matters under the 1992 Constitution, set up a committee and considered the proposals of the association. At the meeting, it was resolved that the decisions of the meetng will be forwarded to the Presidency for approval and same
captured in the National Budget for the year 2020”.
The statement added: “It has, however, come to our attention that the Ministry of Finance has rather slated our salary review for the year 2020 and for implementation in the year 2021. The Association vehementy disagrees with the position taken by Government, hence our present demand”.
Addressing the press to announce the strike action, National President of JUSAG, Alex Nartey said “after our meeting with the National Labour Commission on 11 November 2019, the leadership of JUSAG had a meeting with our Regional Executives and our rank and file. They resolved that since we have already complied with the procedures under the 1992 Constitution regarding our conditions of service, we should proceed accordingly.
“In view of the above, the leadership of JUSAG is left with no option than to declare an indefinite strike action to demand the assenting and implementation of the Judicial Council Committee’s report and that no staff/member of JUSAG shall report to work on Wednesday, 13 November 2019”, insisting: “Until the implementation of the Judicial Council Committee’s report, no staff/member of JUSAG shall report to work”.
He, however, indicated that: “The security personnel of the Judicial Service shall, however, report to work to protect life and property. That staff/members of JUSAG are to comply with the above directives and to stay tuned for further notice”.
