Public sector workers declare strike over 2nd tier pension
A number of labour unions are to embark on an indefinite strike from today to back their demand for the government to allow them to manage the tier two of their pension scheme.
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According to them they would only rescind their decision if the government releases the monies that had accrued from their tier two pension funds into their various schemes.
The groups
The unions include the Health Service Workers Union (HSWU), the Ghana Registered Nurses’ Association (GRNA), the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), the Ghana Physician Assistants’ Association (GPAA), the Ghana Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) and the Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anaesthetists (GRCRA).
Others are the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT).
The rest are the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) and the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG).
Occupational schemes
According to the groups they have their own pension schemes which were the Health Sector Occupational Scheme, set up by the HSWU, the Ghana Education Service Occupational Pension Scheme of the GNAT, the Judicial Service Occupational Pension Scheme of the JUSAG and the Hedge Master Trust Occupational Pension Scheme for CLOSAG members, which were all established with the aim of managing the tier two funds of the various groups.
Ultimatum
The groups had earlier on June 30, 2014 given the government up to July 14, 2014 to transfer their second-tier pension funds to their preferred fund managers or face their wrath.
“We refuse to remain unconcerned when it is obvious that the government’s actions and inaction in the implementation of the Mandatory Occupational Pension Scheme point to the eventual collapse of the three-tier pension scheme,” they stated.
According to the groups they would use every means possible to resist all attempts by the government to appoint the Pensions Alliance Trust (PAT) Limited as a sole trust to manage their second tier pension funds.
The NPA 2008 (Act 766)
The NPA allows contributors to chose their own trusts and the four trusts belonging to the various groups had been approved and licensed by the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) to operate the second-tier pension scheme.
Call for strike
Speaking on behalf of the unions at a press conference in Accra yesterday, the acting General Secretary of HSWU, Mr Reynolds Tenkorang, called on all members to stay away from work until further notice.
According to him, the groups had collectively gone through all the needed processes and waited for a long time for the government to address their grievances, but all had been to no avail, adding that “we are therefore resorting to seek redress through the only means available to us.”
He said the most frustrating aspect was that the first group of beneficiaries under the National Pension Act 2008, (Act 766) would be retiring in January, 2015 and “they are in the dark as to where to claim the second tier benefits.”
He said meetings were being held simultaneously across the country to call on all members to embark on the strike.
Government reacts
Meanwhile, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Mr Haruna Iddrisu in an interview with the Daily Graphic said the governments attention had been drawn to the unilateral action by the group.
“Government wishes to express its regret and utmost surprise at the needless action of the group” he said adding that the strike was unnecessary and uncalled for.
Explaining why he refers to it as unnecessary and uncalled for, he said at the last tripartite meeting on October 18, 2014, it was agreed that the matter would be discussed further with the government agreeing to review the Pension Alliance Trust rule to satisfy labour in the management of the second tier scheme.
He said it was the desire of the government that all associated risk were eliminated through a consensual resolution of an efficient structure to safeguard their own future.
He said the government accepted responsibility to pay the lump sum to all deserving workers under the second-tier as their pension became due in January 2015.
Mr Iddrisu appealed to labour not to feel intimidated working tomorrow and that the government was going to resolve the impasse amicably.
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Writer's email: rebecca.quaicoe-duho@graphic.com.gh