Health Workers threaten strike action

Bolgatanga, Jan. 25, GNA - The Upper East Region branch of Health Workers Group on Thursday threatened to lay down their tools by Tuesday February 6, if Government failed to address and regularize their salary structure.

A statement issued by the group in Bolgatanga and signed by Mr Emmanuel Abanga, Chairman of the Upper East Regional branch of Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA) copied to the Upper East Regional Director of Health and Upper East Regional Minister said 93The time frame for the finalization of health workers' salary had delayed." It explained that an independent body established by Government in June last year to regularize the salary structure of health workers was expected to complete its work last September.

The statement pointed out that by the end of September, the body requested for an extension of time for three months and at the end of the three months it requested for an extension of time for another three months, which the group said they were not prepared to accept. It stressed that the undue delay had caused them several inconveniences and indicated that since June last year, some health workers had not received fixed salaries.

The statement noted that others who were promoted since May last year, had not been put on the new salary scale and others due for promotion had been suspended because of the non availability of new salary scale.

It said retirement benefits for health workers who retired since June last year had not been processed.