Health Service Workers Union grievances to be addressed by February 2020

The National Labour Commission has assured that all grievances of the Health Services Workers Union will be resolved by February 2020.

The assurance follows threats by the union to embark on a strike over some issues including the non payment of increments made to salaries, freezing of negotiated market premiums.

The Health Services Workers Union members include those working in the laboratory, mortuary, pharmacy and other divisions in the health sector.

Government has also agreed to offer some 8 per cent to pay the allowances demanded by the Health Services Workers Union.

The allowance is expected to cushion members of the union and also prevent their about 28,000 members from embarking on a strike.

“We are paying them some kind of allowance to cushion them against the hardships that are as a result of the freezing of the market premium.”

Speaking in an interview with 3news’ Daniel Opoku, Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, Dr. Edward Kwapong confirmed plans are in place to ensure all concerns of the health workers are addressed by February 2020.

Dr. Kwapong said the Union together with representatives of the Fair Wages and Salaries held a meeting with the National Labour Commission and agreed to address the concerns, hence there was no need to go on strike.

“For us, there was no need for a strike action. The four main issues that they brought up, government had agreed to meet them and fulfill those conditions.

On the issue of market premium demanded by the Health workers, Dr. Kwapong said there is little his outfit can do in that regard.

“The matter of market premium is a no go area, because by the whitepaper, it’s been frozen and nobody has the power to go and re-open.”