The PSWU, which is the parent labour group of public sector workers in energy and utility service companies in Ghana, expressed its support for President John Mahama’s choice of Ing. Obeng Kenzo, who has risen through the ranks at VRA.

“Considering your credentials and vast experience, your employees, who are also members of our union, couldn’t have gotten a better Chief Executive than you,” the union’s message read.

The union also emphasized their expectation that VRA’s goals will be best achieved through the productivity of the workforce, good cooperation with management, and a harmonious industrial atmosphere under the new leadership.

Since his appointment, Ing. Obeng-Kenzo has received congratulations from numerous organizations both within and outside of VRA, including the Society of Volta River Authority Engineers (SOVRAE), the College of Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the Project Management Institute, the Chartered Institute of Supply Chain Management, and VRA staff.

This directive was issued on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, when the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and PSWU appeared before the NLC.

The Commission had summoned the government team, led by the FWSC and including the Ministry of Employment, Labour Relations, and Pensions (MELRP), as well as the Ministry of Finance, to address a labour dispute with the PSWU.

The summons followed a notice from the PSWU, dated October 14, 2024, which threatened industrial action starting October 21, 2024, over demands for two institution-specific allowances for its members.

In addition to ordering the PSWU to halt its strike, the NLC directed both parties to resume negotiations on the allowances by October 31, 2024, and report the outcome to the commission by November 6, 2024.

The Commission urged both sides to negotiate in good faith to resolve the conflict.

Background:

On October 15, 2024, the PSWU announced plans to embark on an indefinite strike starting October 21, 2024, citing delays by the government, represented by the FWSC, in finalizing negotiations on two institution-specific allowances owed to its members.

Source: Adomonline

READ ALSO:

• Kasoa ritual killing: 18-year-old suspect sentenced to life imprisonment
• Cardinal Namdini gold mining project set to commission first gold in November – Lands Minister
• Deputy Housing Minister launches roadmap to decarbonise construction industry

The FWSC has in a press release acknowledged the concerns raised by PSWU during their press conference of October 15, but emphasised that negotiations are ongoing, and the planned strike would contravene the Labour Act, Act 651, as well as the Rules of Engagement already agreed upon.

FWSC’s response to key concerns

The PSWU has raised issues regarding delays in negotiations over institution-specific allowances for its 46 member organisations.

However, the FWSC clarified the timeline of events leading up to the current situation. On September 19, 2024, the PSWU submitted a proposal requesting two specific allowances for its members, alongside a threat of strike action if their demands were not met.

Following the proposal submission, the FWSC stated that it swiftly initiated discussions. On September 24, 2024, the FWSC invited PSWU leadership, including representatives from all member organizations, for a meeting. The next day, both parties signed the Rules of Engagement and began preliminary discussions on the request for allowances.

Negotiations underway, Strike considered premature

During these meetings, it was agreed that cost implications for the requested allowances would need to be developed and submitted to the Ministry of Finance, which is the standard procedure. The FWSC emphasized that some PSWU member organizations already benefit from institution-specific allowances, so the focus of discussions has been on organizations that do not currently receive them.

On September 28, 2024, FWSC submitted detailed cost implications for the Ministry of Finance’s review, specifically for those organizations not already receiving allowances. FWSC stressed that this process is necessary to secure the financial mandate required for negotiations to proceed.

FWSC urges PSWU to reconsider strike action

FWSC expressed concern over the PSWU’s decision to strike, stating that it is against the signed Rules of Engagement and the Labour Act, as negotiations are still ongoing. According to the FWSC, embarking on a strike at this point would delay the entire process, as negotiations cannot continue if one party is on strike.

The FWSC, therefore, called on the PSWU to reconsider its planned industrial action to allow negotiations to proceed without disruption. The Commission stressed that it remains committed to engaging with the union and reaching a resolution as quickly as possible, provided the necessary processes are followed.

As the deadline for the strike approaches, the FWSC has reiterated its commitment to the negotiation process and urged the PSWU to allow talks to continue in good faith.

Source: Myjoyonline

READ ALSO:

• Speaker must respect SC court ruling to stay execution – Afenyo-Markin
• East Legon accident: Salifu Amoako goes on his knees; breaks down as he begs families of deceased
• Supreme Court stays Speaker’s ruling ousting 4 MPs from Parliament

The decision was unanimously reached at a Council meeting on May 23, 2024.

The strike follows the union’s decision to defer a planned strike on March 24, 2024, after the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations intervened.

The government, represented by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the NIA management, had promised to negotiate and implement better working conditions for NIA staff.

However, the union in a statement on June 9, cited the government’s failure to demonstrate good faith in the negotiation process and failure to set timelines as mandated.

They also cited the government’s reluctance to grant institution-specific allowances, and non-implementation of an approved scheme of service for NIA staff.

The NIA staff insists that it will not return to work until the government and NIA management address their concerns and improve the dire economic and financial conditions faced by NIA staff.

Read the full statement below:

FINAL-NOTICE_DECLARATION-OF-INDEFINITE-STRIKE