N/R CLOGSAG embark on sit down strike

Tamale, Aug. 04,GNA- The membership of the Northern regional branch of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) on Thursday embarked on a sit down strike to protest against the failure of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to migrate them unto the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS).

As a consequence, the leadership has directed that members of the Association wear red bands and also hoist red flags in all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

Mr Ali Anafo, Regional Secretary of the Association, who declared the strike action at a press conference in Tamale on Thursday, said in 2010 when they had not seen any sign of improvement in their Ghana Universal Salary Structure (GUSS), the district secretaries of CLOGSAG in the region were pressurized by the rank and file to embark on a peaceful demonstration.

However, the National Secretariat advised them against such action and told them to give them time to negotiate on the GUSS pending action by the FWSC to rectify the distortions in the SSSS.

Mr Anafo said after waiting for a long time without any favorable response on the 5 July, 2011 at a regional council meeting membership of the Association in the region notified the National Secretariat and the government not to be surprise if they laid down their tools.

He said a follow up to their earlier press conference indicated that their demands had been ignored while the FWSC had also failed to forward to the leadership of CLOGSAG the necessary documents to facilitate the migration of their members unto the SSSS.

“The attitude of the FWSC leaves us with no option but to conclude that the SSSS is a deceitful policy by government”, Mr Anafo said.

He said the patience of the membership of the Association had run out, as there was no indication that their pay would be enhanced, hence the sit down strike action.

“I view of the fact that school fees, fuel, rent and transportation fares are high and unbearable, we are serving notice that we in this region will advise ourselves if the national Secretariat fail to negotiate for enhanced pay by the end of July”, Mr Anafo stressed.

The Northern Region branch of CLOGSAG has threatened to embark on an indefinite strike if their demands are not heeded to within three days.