Irate GBC staff threaten strike over withdrawal of allowances
The Divisional Union Chairman of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, (GBC) Samuel Nat Kevor has admonished the management of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (GBC) to rescind its decision to withdraw some allowances for staff or face their wrath.
The decision by the commission to withdraw some allowances for staff of the government-owned media house has sparked dissatisfaction among employees, who feel their hard labour is not adequately acknowledged and rewarded.
Members of staff are asking whether the removal of the allowances is part of the IMF conditions to contain the wage bill.
As part of the new arrangements, some GBC staff will lose about 33% of their current salaries.
The Union representing the interests of employees has also called for the dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission.
According to the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), it has commenced a Nationwide Payroll Monitoring Exercise with the Internal Audit Agency. This is in line with the FWSC Act, 2007 (Act 737), which mandates the Commission to develop and monitor allowances and benefits as well as to coordinate, manage, and monitor collective bargaining processes in which Government is the direct or indirect employer.
The Commission added that as part of the payroll monitoring exercise, it discovered that some staff at GBC are currently enjoying allowances to which they are not entitled.
The affected allowances include rent allowance, housing, utility, vehicle maintenance, and transportation, among others.
But in a reaction, Mr. Kevor warned that failure to reinstate their allowances will result in a series of industrial actions and other legal measures.
source: citnews
