The action is intended to support their demand for better working conditions. Although they initially planned to start the strike on March 24, it was postponed after the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations intervened.
However, with no progress made, the Divisional Executive Council of the union, part of the Public Services Workers’ Union (PSWU) of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC), has unanimously decided to suspend all work following a council meeting on May 23. Consequently, the PSWU has announced that all services provided by its members at NIA district offices, regional offices, headquarters, and premium centres have been suspended indefinitely until further notice.
In a statement signed by its Council Secretary, Kwabena Adu Kyeremeh, and Council Chairman, Francis Bangfudeme Nyuzaghi, the union announced its intention to strike.
The union explained that the decision was a response to worker agitation, aiming to draw attention to their ongoing demands for better working conditions.
Some concerns raised included approved allowances outlined in their Conditions of Service not appearing on their pay slips.
The statement released yesterday said: “The condition for deferring the strike action was that the government, represented by the FWSC, and the management of NIA, would facilitate the negotiation and implementation of better conditions of service for NIA staff, among other things. However, the government has not shown good faith in the negotiation process.
The Divisional Executive Council has, therefore, resolved to declare this indefinite strike in response to the heightened agitation of our members for the need to embark on an industrial action to emphasize our poor and demeaning conditions of service.”NIA responds Last March, when NIA staff threatened to strike, management responded with a statement explaining why they were unable to meet staff requests regarding their Conditions of Service.
In a letter signed on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Prof. Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah, the NIA described the demands as unrealistic. “Management is not in a position to implement proposals it has submitted to a third party, namely the FWSC, which alone is the statutory body to duly consider and act on the proposals. Under these circumstances, your demand for the implementation of NIA’s proposals to the FWSC and for them to be reflected in the March 2024 pay slip of staff is unrealistic and cannot be met,” the letter emphasized.
