The National Labour Commission (NLC) says it has begun processes to drag the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana, (JUSAG), to the law court over its strike.
According to the NLC, the industrial action by the group which begins on Wednesday, November 13, is illegal given that the two parties are already in talks on how to resolve the concerns raised by the judicial workers.
JUSAG on Tuesday declared an indefinite nationwide strike as a result of what it describes as the government’s failure to review the salaries of its members.
The Association contends that the Judicial Council has also failed to release the report on their negotiations for onward approval by the President.
But the Executive-Secretary of the NLC, Samuel Ofosu Asamoah, who spoke on CNR. said the Commission is resorting to the court because JUSAG has breached sections of the labour laws.
“The action by JUSAG is illegal. By the labour laws, when an action is pending before the commission or even when parties are in negotiations, wearing of armbands is not allowed, not alone strike. So the strike is not only illegal, but they are in contempt of the Commission. Because they are in contempt, we will drag them to court and cite them for contempt. In fact, I have directed the legal department to start preparations. [We are taking JUSAG to court] We are citing them for contempt and for more so, if they go on strike, it will be an illegal one.”
He further warned that members of the Association risk losing salaries due them due to unlawful nature of the strike.
“The government will not pay for any illegal strike. The law provides that where a strike is illegal, the declarer of the strike should be ready to pay the salaries, allowances or whatever remuneration of the union members during the period of the strike.”
President of JUSAG, Alex Nattey has charged all his members not to show up at work today [Wednesday, November 13, 2019], except security personnel.
CNR
