Despite a direction from the National Labour Commission (NLC), members of the Medical Laboratory Professional Worker’s Union (MELPWU) are continuing their industrial action.
On Thursday, June 20, 2024, the Labor Commission gave MELPWU members instructions to call off the strike and go back to the negotiating table with the administration.
On June 17, the MELPWU went on strike, claiming that the government was taking too long to address their terms of employment. Public health services have been severely damaged by the strike action, which has left patients stranded and forced many to seek out more expensive testing services at private facilities.
The strike is still in effect in spite of the order, as seen by a visit to Manhyia Government Hospital and the Suntreso Government Hospital.
Austin Gamey, a labor expert, expressed hope for the negotiations’ possible result, pointing out that the Commission has ordered ongoing meetings until Wednesday and that parties must attend in full.
“The Commission says we should be meeting between now [Thursday] and Wednesday, and they made potent directives that the parties should meet with mandates not just coming to meetings and we believe the Commission’s directive is potent enough to find a solution,” Mr Gamey added.
Cephas Akortor, the General Secretary of MELPWU, voiced dissatisfaction with the Commission’s ruling, nevertheless.
“We are not very happy because our expectations were not met, but all the same, we are all Ghanaians and would take the advice of the Commission,” he stated.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com