Doctors Strike: We are ready to face NLC in court- GMA
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has described as laughable the decision by the National Labour Commission (NLC) to drag them to court over their ongoing strike.
The NLC, in a suit filed on Wednesday, is seeking the powers of the court to compel the doctors to go back to work after several attempts in that regard failed.
President of GMA, Dr. Kwabena Adusei Poku has however told Citi News, the GMA is prepared to face the National Labour Commission in court.
“It’s laughable. Why is it that all along they did not take the FWSC to court when they refused to abide by the ruling of the National Labour Commission? Is it because now government has told them to go to court?
We are ready and will meet them in court. The courts are manned by human beings and come Tuesday, we will be there.”
The Junior Doctors Association of Ghana has meanwhile also given indications that if a ruling is made in favour of the National Labour Commission, they will be compelled to stage a protest march.
Speaking to Citi News, the President of the Association, Titus Beyuo said the NLC has consistently been unfair to doctors.
“Look at the chronology of things and you will know that GMA served notice. A press statement was issued last year November and as an essential service provider, what was done about it? Nothing!
In February, we issued another warning and nothing happened, eventually, the strike was declared. We went for negotiations, they gave some goodwill, we called off the strike and nothing happened afterward.”
He added that there will be consequences if the doctors were forced to return to post.
“No army goes to war on an empty stomach and as far as we are concerned, we think it is better to have a doctor on strike than have a disgruntled, unsatisfied doctor at work. If they force our leadership by law, we will know how to battle it out.”
Public sector doctors have been on strike for about two weeks which begun with their refusal to treat out-patients over the non-payment of salary arrears and distortions in their pensions and market premium on the new pay structure.
The doctors have since activated the second phase of their strike by refusing to treat emergency cases even though government has agreed to pay their arrears in installment and the National Labour Commission described their strike as illegal.
Source: Citifmonline
