Nurses, Physician Assistants, Anesthetists threaten to strike on Monday

The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has notified the government that its members and allied associations including the Ghana Physician Assistants Association and Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anesthetists will withdraw their services from Monday,  September 21, 2020.

According to the association, the decision to threaten to strike is part of their demands for improved conditions of service.

A statement issued on Thursday, September 17, 2020, by the Association said the government’s stance during negotiations fell foul of Act 651 of the Labour Law which deals with issues of good faith for stakeholders, which the association appears to have an issue with.

The statement signed jointly by the Presidents of the GRNMA, Ghana Physician Assistants Association and the Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anesthetists also directed the general public to seek medical attention from other health facilities.

"The Employer is hereby notified that Nurses, Midwives, Physician Assistants and Certified Registered Anaesthetists will withdraw their services from Monday, 21st September, 2020 if they fail to address the concerns raised by the GRNMA team," the statement said.

"All Nurses, Midwives, Physician Assistants (PAs) and Certified Registered Anaesthetists (CARS) in ALL public institutions are directed to withdraw their services from 8:00 am on Monday, 21 September, 2020.

"The general public is advised to seek medical attention from other health facilities".

Read the entire press statement below;

Following series of negotiation meetings held with the Employer and the posture of same in the on-going negotiation on the conditions of service for nurses, Midwives, Physician Assistants and Certified Registered Anaesthetist, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) issued a communique on 4 September, 2020 informing the general membership about the posture of the Employer contrary to the provisions 97 of the Labour Law 2003 (Act 651).

A letter dated 9th September, 2020 was also served on all stakeholders informing them about the status of the negotiation and the possible actions of the GRNMA and its Allied Associations (Ghana Physician Assistants Association and Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anesthetists).

Having reconvened in the meetings held on 15th and 16th September, 2020 the posture of the Employer changed for the better but did not meet the expectation of the majority of Nurses, Midwives, Physician Assistants and Certified Registered Anaesthetists in Ghana

The GRNMA National Council in collaboration with its Allied Associations has discussed fully the report of the GRNMA/Allied negotiating team on the proposal of the Employer and has concluded as follows:

1. The proposal of the Employer as reported cannot serve the economic interest ALL Nurses, Midwives, PAs and CRAS.

2. The Employer is hereby notified that Nurses, Midwives, Physician Assistants and Certified Registered Anaesthetists will withdraw their services from Monday, 21st September, 2020 if they fail to address the concerns raised by the GRNMA team.

3. All Nurses, Midwives, Physician Assistants (PAs) and Certified Registered Anaesthetists (CARS) in ALL public institutions are directed to withdraw their services from 8:00 am on Monday, 21 September, 2020.

4. The general public is advised to seek medical attention from other health facilities.

Signed