TUC slams Government over leaked Doctors’ proposals
Organized Labour Wednesday accused the government of leaking proposals by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) for improved working conditions.
That act, according to Organized Labour, “is a fatal flaw” that undermines negotiations and has the potential to undermine Government’s credibility in all negotiations with social partners.
The condemnation was contained in a statement issued Wednesday by Organised Labour and signed by the Secretary General of the Trades Unions Congress, Kofi Asamoah, which demanded an investigation into the leakage and the culprits punished.
The Doctors, who have declared a partial strike and threatened mass resignations should the Government fail to grant their demands, have come under criticisms since their proposals for what should be their working condition became public last week.
While a section of the public have described some of the Doctors’ demands as outrages and unreasonable, they have in turn accused the government of acting in bad faith.
The TUC however, says negotiations are founded on principles of good faith and trust and nothing should be done to undermine those principles.
“We demand that Government should investigate the leakage and punish those found culpable.”
The statement also asked the GMA and the Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association to resume work while negotiations with the Government continue.
Below is the full statement by Organised Labour.
ORGANIZED LABOUR
Press Statement
Labour Concerns and Agitations
The Leaders of Public Sector Unions of Organized Labour met on Tuesday, 4th August, 2014 to discuss the strike actions by health workers to back their demands for conditions of service and the payment of outstanding salaries.
The Leaders noted that the situation was due, largely, to Government’s inability to proactively address the concerns of Public Sector workers. If Government had acted in good faith on the concerns of the Doctors, Pharmacists’ and Nurses, the situation could have been avoided.
It is unfortunate that Government could release proposals submitted by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) to the media. We condemn this act because it is a fatal flaw that undermines the negotiation and has the potential of undermining Government’s credibility in all negotiations with social partners. Negotiations are founded on principles of good faith and trust and nothing should be done to undermine these principles.
We demand that Government should investigate the leakage and punish those found culpable.
We call on all parties involved in the current impasse to resume negotiations and to refrain from any act that could further strain the relationship. We also urge all parties to negotiate in good faith and to work within agreed timelines. All parties must avoid discussion of issues under negotiation in the media.
Government must take steps to improve human resource management in the Public Service particularly in areas of compensation and benefits.
We urge the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) and the Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) to resume work while negotiations continue.
[SIGNED]
KOFI ASAMOAH
SECRETARY GENERAL - TUC
FOR: ORGANIZED LABOUR
ACCRA, 5th AUGUST, 2015
