Return to Negotiation Table for Timely Resolution; FWSC to CLOGSAG
The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has urged the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) to abandon their plan for industrial action and avail themselves for a seamless negotiation over a new salary structure.
Announcing their plan to embark on industrial action on October 7, the CLOGSAG said the FWSC has exhibited bad faith and lack of commitment towards the development of a new salary structure from the onset.
However, the Commission denied the allegation in a counter statement arguing the Association has rather exhibited bad faith in the process.
Commitment
The FWSC emphasized the government’s commitment to engage CLOGSAG in finding lasting solutions to its demands without undermining the principles underpinning the Single Spine Pay Policy.
On that note, it urged them to make their way back to the negotiation for timely completion and implementation of the new structure on January 1 as planned.
“We, therefore, urge CLOGSAG to rescind its decision to embark on the strike action and return to the negotiating table for a timely resolution of their concerns.”
Negotiation
According to the statement, the negotiation process involves exploring alternative ways of addressing the demand for a new salary structure by CLOGSAG which will not injure the existing pay policy.
“It is instructive to note that in a meeting held on October 30, 2024, the Government Team made an alternative proposal aimed at addressing the concerns of CLOGSAG which they requested the Government Team to put into writing. Being committed to the process, the Government Team confirmed the alternative proposal in writing as demanded by CLOGSAG on the same day.”
Meanwhile, it noted that the Association is yet to respond to the Government proposal.
“It is, therefore, surprising to see a notice issued by CLOGSAG to embark on strike when discussions have not reached a deadlock.
Bad Faith
The Commission accused the Association of disrespecting the Chief Executive, Ing. Benjamin Arthur on countless occasions without any provocation.
“CLOGSAG has at all material times sought to ignore the authority of the Chief Executive, Ing. Benjamin Arthur, of the FWSC including, walking out of scheduled meetings without provocations, verbal attacks during meetings and calling for his dismissals. These attitudes of CLOGSAG towards the FWSC and its Chief Executive, including refusal to attend scheduled meetings, is an affront to the state institution mandated to manage the Government Pay Policy.”
It added, “Therefore, for CLOGSAG to indicate in its Press Release that it ‘has decided to have nothing to do with the Chief Executive of FWSC’ amounts to bad faith, when the Chief Executive has made several attempts to engage CLOGSAG but they have decided to ignore him and sidestep FWSC as they see the Commission as a blockade towards their quest to opt out of the Single Spine Pay Policy.”
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
