CLOGSAG workers threaten to lay down tools from October 14

The Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) has warned government and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) that its members would embark on a nationwide strike by laying down their tools come October 14 if their demand for the 50 per cent premium to be paid to them was not met.

Addressing the leadership of CLOGSAG and its members drawn from the 13 Municipal and Districts from the Upper East Region, the Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG, Mr Isaac Bampoe Addo described the intended strike by CLOGSAG as “the mother of all strikes in Ghana” He said the strike which had been codified “Enough is Enough” would involve key staff such as all the Chief Directors of the Civil Service, Metropolitan, Municipal and District (MMDAs) Coordinating Directors among others.

He said the decision to embark upon such nationwide strike which he described as legal was taken by the CLOGSAG National Executive Council which is the highest apex body of CLOSAG at a meeting where it was resolved that the strike should be carried out.

Mr Addo explained that they were forced to take that decision because all the channels to address their concerns had been exhausted and indicated that on February 24, 2012, the head of civil service sent a preamble explaining that viewing the significant role CLOGSAG members played in the socio-economic development of the nation, it was good the authorities in governance recognized and appreciated their efforts by paying them the 50 per cent premium.

The Executive Secretary said the FWSC failed to address the concern put before it which led to the setting up of three committees by government including the ET Mensah, Moses Asaga and the Inter-Ministry Committees that recommended that the FWSC satisfied the demands of CLOGSAG. He said earlier, voluntary arbitration was instituted by the stakeholders including the Labour Commission, FWSC and CLOGSAG to address the issue amicably but the FWSC withdrew from that move.

Mr Addo stated that during the President’s session address this year he (President) acknowledged the fact that the country had experienced some appreciable level of socio-economic growth and attributed the partly to the immense contribution of CLOGSAG.

“Whilst other workers including teachers had been given an incremental jump, we the members of CLOGSAG have been excluded. Even after drawing the attention of the FWSC to it, they still refused to listen to us. What have we done?. Enough is enough”, he retort.

Advancing his points, he said it was not for nothing that the Colonial Masters instituted the Cap 30 for CLOGSAG viewing the significant role it played and said it was very sad that government scraped it off and gave the same privilege to other working groups.

Mr Addo said per the labour law CLOGSAG had exhausted all the channels to redress the issue with the FWSC and other stakeholders and said these futilities had prompted association to embark upon legal strike as the last resort to press home their demands.

He entreated all members of CLOGSAG not to entertain any fears when they are called to the said date to commence the strike action, stressing “we must unite to fight for a common goal by laying down our tools and see how they can operate particularly the politicians”.

Mr Ben Ayarige, Projects and Welfare Officer of CLOGSAG entreated members to be bold and not to go to work even if they were being called particularly by politicians and said the Labour Law was there to protect them since they were embarking on a genuine cause.

Mr Paul Agoo, the Regional Chairman of CLOGSAG indicated that the National and Regional Executives including the District Executives of CLOGSAG would facilitate the process to ensure that members’ conditions of services were enhanced.

He expressed regret at the recent increases in utility tariffs after just a 10 per cent increase of workers’ salaries and said this was making living conditions very hard for the average Ghanaian.