Civil Servants in Western Region wear red arm bands to work

Sekondi, Aug.03, GNA - Civil Servants in the Western Region have began wearing red armbands and headgears to signify their determination to embark on strike when nothing positive was done to ensure equity and fairness in their salary structure by the August 15 deadline.

Their action is in response to a communiqu=E9 issued by the Civil Servants Association (CSA) at the end of its 10th Quadrennial National Delegates Congress at Kumasi last month that requested them to wear red armbands to signify the seriousness of the impending strike action.

"This is only a warning and we are poised for real action if our requests continue to be disregarded by the Government," a lady told the Ghana News Agency after a meeting with the Western Regional Executives at Sekondi on Thursday.

At the meeting the civil servants resolved to lay down their tools until the Government responded positively to their "genuine demand" for better salaries and conditions of service.

In the communiqu=E9 the association had expressed displeasure about the manner Government had been handling negotiations towards finding lasting solution to their problems. They contended that Government had negated on its pledge to collaborate with the association to work out modalities to enhance salaries of Civil Servants.

Mr. John Ampaabeng Kyeremeh, Second National Trustee of the association briefing the GNA said previous meeting with Government representatives in April this year, agreed that negotiations for 2006 salaries must be concluded by May 10 for new salaries to be paid by the end of May.

He said it was also agreed that review of overdue allowances be concluded within the same period to take effect from June 1. Mr. Kyeremeh said it was proposed that a committee composed of representatives of the Government and the association, should complete the review of salaries, allowances and other issues before July 10.

"It was on the basis of these agreements, that planned nationwide demonstrations were put on hold. Unfortunately the good faith demonstrated by the association had not been reciprocated by the Government hence the ultimatum to lay down our tools by Tuesday, August 15 if there are no positive signs from the Government, "he concluded.