Wa, July 8, GNA - Members of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association in the Upper West Region, on Thursday, demonstrated against the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure, (SSSS) which they said, did not favour its members.

The members drew the attention of the government to the lowering of their grades in their placement on the new pay policy by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, which they stated was unacceptable. In a statement, issued and signed by Mr. Geoffrey W. Tuu, Upper West Regional Secretary of CLOGSAG, the members appealed to the government to implement all issues relating to negotiations and agreements reached between CLOGSAG and the government at its meeting on April 23, 2010 without fail. The statement pointed out that, at that meeting, it was agreed that the membership of CLOGSAG must remain on the Ghana Universal Salary Structure pending the rectification of their placement. It was also agreed that negotiations should be opened for the CLOGSAG to negotiate for the 2010 salary levels on the basis of the Ghana Universal Salary Structure, while a Technical Committee was set up to address CLOGSAG's concerns.

These concerns, the statement noted, had not been addressed yet the government had gone ahead to implement the SSSS in total disregard to the plight of members. "There is the feeling that an unfair labour practice is being meted out to our membership, an act which seems to perpetuate institutionalized discrimination over the years against our membership," the statement noted. The statement said members of CLOGSAG are a peace loving group of workers who drive government machinery and would not want to do anything that would infringe on industrial peace in the country. It, therefore, appealed to the government to intervene to get the appropriate agencies to respect CLOGSAG's views and live by the agreements reached at the meeting. 08 July 10