We’ll embark on strike if… – Organised Labour to Gov’t

• Posted on July 2, 2014July 2, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Organised labour has given government a two-week ultimatum to transfer funds into the various public sector pension schemes or they would embark on an industrial action.

“We wish to state that if by July 14, directives have not been issued for the transfer of funds to various public sector schemes, we will advise ourselves,”  said Mr Awotwi Nkansah, Deputy Executive Secretary of GNAT in charge of Labour at a press conference.

Organised  Labour was represented at the press conference by Civil and Local Government Staff Association (CLOSSAG), Health Services Workers Union (HSWU) Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Judicial Services Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG), Ghana Medical Association (GMA) and Government Hospital Pharmacist Association (GHOSPA).

Organised  labour said it would resist any imposition of a Trust by government on their members in the Public Services.

Mr Awotwi Nkansah, who spoke on behalf of Organised labour, said it had become necessary for them to come together to fight as a body “because all our schemes are currently going through trying and frustrating  moments.”

“The Board of the National Pension Regulatory Authority (NPRA) is saddled with another trust Pension Alliance Trust (PAT) Limited that has been tasked by Government to run the three tier pension scheme for all workers in the public services on government payroll.”

It said the Public Services of Ghana comprised independent and autonomous services and therefore cannot be lumped together for the purpose of running a two tier Occupational Pensions Scheme.

“In as much as it would be morally wrong to take control of money that does not belong to you, we deem it puzzling that the government would find it convenient to unilaterally enter into a contract with PAT to manage the contributions of each public service workers in various public services,” he said.

Mr Nkansah said by doing so government was taking away the right of workers to choose a Trust of their own.

He added: “On the contrary, if government does not rescind its decision, then it has defeated the rationale for establishing the NPRA and we refuse to remain unconcerned when it is obvious that government’s actionand inaction  in the implementation of the mandatory occupational Pension Scheme points to eventual collapse of the three tier pension scheme.”

-GNA