More than twenty-seven thousand Public Service workers have embarked on an indefinite strike over the government’s refusal to pay their respective institution-specific allowances.
The workers maintain the denial of the allowance is financially constraining them.
The striking institutions which include, the Electoral Commission, National Commission for Civic Education, the Ghana Meteorological Services Department, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Ghana News Agency, Ghana Revenue Authority and Ghana Standard Authority, Ghana AIDS Commission, Ghana Airports Company and Audit Service of Ghana, are demanding the allowance in two folds; Government support services allowance and public services administration and equity allowance.
The series of engagements by the union leadership with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission acting as government negotiator did not yield the expected result.
On Monday, the news team visited some of the striking institutions. At the country’s election management body, the Electoral Commission, the strike took full effect as all supporting staff and senior members of the union at the Commission stayed away from work.
Private security guards and janitors were however the major workforce on the premises at the time of the news team’s visit.
Members of the public who walked in to engage the Commission were turned away. The security at the premises is secured.
The effect of the strike is also felt at the Ghana News Agency. The Ghana News Agency has two unions; the Public Services Workers Union and the Communication Workers Union.
The Communication Workers Union held the fort at the organization while their colleagues in the PSWU strike to demand their allowance.
The situation was no different at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC). Here, journalists in the radio and TV newsrooms were present but staff in other departments were absent.
The leadership of the Union is resolute in its decision despite calls from some government officials on Monday to call off the strike. But the Union insists on not backing down on its demands until the government meets the demands of the members.
Deputy General Secretary of the Public Services Workers Union, John Nii Donu Sampah is confident more unions will join in solidarity if government delays.
Speaking to 3news.com, he said some government officials have started calling the leaders of our Union to call off the strike, but we have not gotten to the point where we can say that we have agreed. There will be more engagement to fashion out the way forward.
“If the government refuses to heed our demands the workers will not return to work,” he said.