Two bodies call for amicable solution to labour conflicts

Two recognised bodies have added their voices to calls for the amicable and speedy resolution of the issues which have compelled doctors and pharmacists in public health institutions to embark on a strike.

They are the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH).

While the President of the GCBC, the Most Reverend Joseph Osei-Bonsu, appealed to members of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) to call off their strike and resort to negotiations, the President of the PSGH, Mr James Ohemeng-Kyei, appealed to the government to call for a truce on all labour negotiations.

Mr Ohemeng-Kyei further called on the government to establish an independent mediator to promptly hear and resolve all outstanding issues.

The Most Rev Osei-Bonsu said doctors dealt with human lives and, therefore, they should reconsider their decision and return to work, while their leaders engaged in talks with the appropriate institutions, writes Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah from Fiapre.

The Most Rev Osei-Bonsu, who is also the Bishop of the Konongo-Mampong Diocese of the Catholic Church, called on those governmental agencies responsible for settling the impasse to expedite action on the demands by the GMA or what they deserved to enable them to return to work immediately.

The President of the GCBC made the appeal when he interacted with newsmen after delivering the second in the series of lectures marking the 10th anniversary of the Catholic University College of Ghana (CUCG) at Fiapre in the Sunyani West District in the Brong Ahafo Region. 

His topic was, "The Year of Faith".

The bishop said everyone had the fundamental right to embark on strike or demonstration in the country if he or she had genuine reasons to do so.

He said the church recognised those actions by individuals and groups as the last resort to their demands.

In his presentation, he indicated that pastoral guidelines for the celebration of the "Year of Faith" had been offered to the universal church, episcopal conferences, dioceses, parishes, communities, associations and movements.

The Vice-Chancellor of the CUCG, Prof. James Hopkins Emphraim, who chaired the function, urged the participants to rediscover their faith, deepen it and share it with those who did not even share the Catholic faith.

In a statement issued by its President, the PSGH, after reviewing the facts, observed a systematic plan to undervalue pharmacists and leave them worse off in their migration onto the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS).

It said the conduct, language and posture of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) were a deliberate ploy to compromise the value of pharmacists, contrary to the historical relativities in the health sector and the outcome of a recent scientific job evaluation exercise.

The statement said the uncompromising posture by the FWSC over the last two years, coupled with its disregard for rulings, directives, orders and the decision of the National Labour Commission (NLC), had led to most of the present labour agitation and unrest in the country.

It also called for the immediate replacement of the top hierarchy of the FWSC with persons with more candor, tact, objectivity and respect for all categories of labour.

It said the FWSC should publish the SSSS implementation plan for the various categories of Ghanaian workforce to minimise the agitation.

“Adequately resource and empower the NLC with full-time commissioners and all relevant personnel, equipment and conditions to enable them to execute their mandate expeditiously,” it added.

The statement called on the remaining categories of pharmacists, especially those in community practice, to extend their service hours to mitigate the effects of the present strike by their colleagues in the public sector.

It also commended the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service for their untiring efforts, over the last two years, at resolving the impasse.