Return to work; the sick can’t be victims – Gov’t begs doctors

The government has pleaded with striking doctors to return to work as negotiation for their conditions of service proceeds next week.

Government said the sick cannot be “unfortunate victims” of the labour action as members of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) desert the Outpatient Departments of public hospitals.

“It is, therefore, regrettable and pathetic that the sick has become unfortunate victims of the striking doctors,” a statement from the chief labour officer Eugene N. Korletey said.

The statement noted that: “…Negotiations between Government and Ghana Medical Association (GMA) on the GMA conditions of service has not come to a deadlock.”

Negotiations will resume on August 5.

Below is the full statement:


NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND GHANA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (GMA) ON GMA CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
We wish to state that negotiations between Government and Ghana Medical Association (GMA) on the GMA conditions of service has not come to a deadlock.

Negotiations were held at the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR) on Wednesday 29th July 2015 at which government negotiation team was led by Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson, Deputy Minister of Finance and Hon. Alex Segbefia, Minister of Health.

The standing negotiating team agreed on a number of issues relating to the conditions of service. It is worth stating that both parties agreed to continue negotiations on Wednesday, 5th August, 2015, to discuss the remaining issues that will be factored into the conditions of service

It is, therefore, regrettable and pathetic that the sick has become unfortunate victim of the striking doctors.

It is pertinent to note that parties to negotiation are to do so in good faith without intimidation or threat as stipulated in S. 127 (3) & (4) of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) which states as follows:-

(3) A worker or group of workers who by any kind of threat seeks to intimidate the employer during negotiation of a collective agreement is guilty of unfair labour practice.

(4) Employer or employers’ organizations who seek by any kind of treat to intimidate the worker during negotiations of a collective agreement is guilty of unfair labour practice.

An appeal is, therefore, being made to the members of GMA to return to work while making room for the scheduled date for negotiation to continue without prejudice to the afore-mentioned provisions of the Law.

SIGNED
EUGENE N. KORLETEY
AG. CHIEF LABOUR OFFICER

From: Public Affairs Unit