CLOGSAG to call off strike

The Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG) has agreed to call off the ongoing strike by Monday (25 April), Nana Ato Arthur, head of the Local Government Service has said.

He said the leadership of CLOGSAG agreed to call off the strike after a crunch meeting with the government on Thursday.

CLOGSAG on Thursday (21 April) began an indefinite strike over what it describes as  non payment of the neutrality allowance as agreed with the government.

Talking to Asaase Radio on Friday (22 April), Arthur said, “CLOGSAG actually agreed to the government’s plea for them to call off the strike.”

“What is left is that because the Minister of Finance is not in the country, the deputy minister is to contact the Minister and then a letter will be written to consolidate all the decisions taken yesterday.

“When that letter is signed, the executive of CLOGSAG and all the civil and local government staff will return to work, so my believe is that if the letter gets to them by close of work today (Friday) hopefully on Monday CLOGSAG will call off the strike,” Arthur told Philip Asiawo on The Asaase Breakfast Show.

Listen to Nana Ato Arthur in the attached file below:

CLOGSAG strike is illegal

The National Labour Commission has said the ongoing strike by the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG) is illegal and must be called off.

According to the executive secretary of the commission, Ofosu Asamoah, the national executive council (NEC) of CLOGSAG are still at the negotiation table and therefore, has not sanctioned the industrial action.

Speaking to Beatrice Adu on The Big Bulletin on Thursday (21 April), Asamoah said, “the commission [NLC] directed that the finance ministry was to engage CLOGSAG on the matter by yesterday [20 April] and then report to the commission by 27 April.

“So, based on this, they [CLOGSAG] were directed to suspend the strike which they agreed to do. As I talk to you, yesterday there was a long meeting between CLOGSAG, the head of civil service, the head of local government service, the ministry of finance, the ministry of employment and labour relations trying to find solutions to the demands.”

He added: “And today the meetings are going on and by the dictates of the law, when negotiations are going on, in a matter pending before the commission, parties with the matter are not allowed by law to go on strike or a lockout. It was a question of miscommunication. I called the attention of the executives that there are some flyers going around informing the workers that the strike is coming on, so, the national executives; have not sanctioned the strike. And that they were in a meeting with the ministry of finance.”

Asamoah further added that “it is for the national leadership to call them [CLOGSAG rank and file] to order because it’s an illegal strike. The strike has not been sanctioned by the national executive so they cannot be on strike. If a strike has not been sanctioned by the national leadership and it is not in conformity with the labour law, then it is an illegal strike.”

21 April strike

On 6 April, the national executive council (NEC) of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG) served notice that it will embark on an indefinite strike beginning on 21 April.

CLOGSAG said it has realised that the payment of the neutrality allowance as agreed with the government in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has not been effected in spite of official reminders and follow-ups to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.

Therefore, the NEC has decided that CLOGSAG should embark on industrial action to press home its demand for the implementation of the MoU.

A statement signed by the executive secretary of CLOGSAG, Isaac Bampoe Addo said, “notice has therefore been served on the National Labour Commission (NLC), the Civil Service Council and the Local Government Service Council with copies to the Hon. Senior Presidential Advisor, the Hon. Minister for National Security and Hon. Minister for Employment and Labour Relations that the Association would proceed on Strike from 21 April 2022.

“Regional Secretariats are by this letter enjoined to bring this to the notice of all members of the Association. Council appreciates your continuous support in our quest to attain better conditions of service for our members.”

Fred Dzakpata

Asaase Radio 99.5 – tune in or log on to broadcasts online
99.5 in Accra, 101.5 in Bawku, 99.9 in Bimbilla, 100.3 in Cape Coast, 90.7 in Ho, 98.5 in Kumasi, 99.7 in Tamale, 89.5 in Tarkwa and 106.9 in Walewale
Join the conversation. Call: 020 000 9951 or 059 415 7777. Or WhatsApp: 020 000 0995.
#AsaaseRadio
#TheVoiceofOurLand