Striking doctors want to compel us to negotiate under duress – Gov’t

The Government has voiced out its displeasure at the ongoing strike action by members of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA).
It has therefore, described the action of the striking doctors as unfair and against the rules of labour practice, especially, when negotiations between the two parties are still ongoing.
“This amounts to coercion and an attempt to compel government to negotiate under duress”, a statement signed and released in Accra by the Minister for Employment & Labour Relations, Haruna Iddrisu on Monday in part read.
It added “the current withdrawal of services is illegal and government calls on the GMA to call off the partial strike with immediate effect.”
According to the statement, the government is still in discussion with the Public Service Joint Negotiating Committee (PSJNC) over the demands of the striking doctors.
That notwithstanding, it said the Fair Wages and Salary Commission has also been consulted on the demands put forward by the doctors in order not to jeopardize the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Pay Policy and also not to adversely affect the annual budget approved by Parliament.
The GMA and the Government are expected to be at the negotiating table this Wednesday, August 5, 2015, to find a common ground on the demands of the former.