12 labour unions extend strike ultimatum to Nov. 21

Twelve labour unions have given government up to 21 November to transfer their Tier-2 pension funds to their custodian banks or they embark on a nationwide strike.

The Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG), Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSSAG), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Ghana Medical Association (GMA), and eight other unions are upset over the non-payment of five per cent of their pension contributions to designated accounts to be managed by an independent body.

The unions dragged government to court and after an out-of-court settlement, the two parties agreed that payment would be done on April 1 this year.

However, after seven months, the unions said government had breached the agreement.

The unions previously issued a November 14 ultimatum to government to address their concerns or face industrial action.

An emergency meeting with President John Mahama on Tuesday 15 November to address their concerns was inconclusive.

Speaking to Class News, the General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr Justice Yankson, said the decision to extend the ultimatum to 21 November was reached after evaluating a series of meetings with government.

The agitated labour groups include the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Ghana Physician Assistants Association (GPAA), Government Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) and Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anaesthetists (GACRA).

The others are the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT), Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSSAG) and Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG).