We won’t accept an appeal; come with a mandate – Workers tell govt

The Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) has sent a prior notice to the government ahead of their meeting to come with a mandate not an appeal to resolve the agitation for 20% Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) by organized labour.

In an interview with Alfred Ocansey on 3FM Sunrise Morning Show, the General Secretary of the PSWU, Mr. Bernard Adjei made it clear that, government should come into the Tuesday 12 July, 2022 meeting with a mandate but not an appeal.

“We expected this meeting a long time ago when this whole request was made during the Workers Day celebration but it is better late than never. However, we pray that the government comes with a proper mandate and does not come to appeal because the point that we are now, an appeal will not work. The workers have spoken and they have decided” he emphasized

Mr. Adjei explained that an appeal cannot pay bills, buy food or help the worker to take care of family hence they will not accept an appeal from the government.

The union has observed that the government is able to find money to bail out sectors that it considers as very important to the economy of Ghana when those sectors are faced with challenges. Therefore, they want the government to do the same for the public service workers since they also play critical roles in the economy.

He also mentioned that the Single Spine Salary Structure has been abysmal in addressing the income problems of workers, making the average worker poorer with the relatively low salaries.

“Even the 20% is not enough but considering the circumstances we find ourselves in, at least the 20% can cushion us, and that’s all we are asking for. So the appeal which was brought at the last meeting and our colleagues who were there made it clear it is a nonstarter. That is why we expect the government team to come to the meeting today with a mandate that can cushion our members” the General Secretary repeated.

The union which is made up of about fifty six public sector unions has in a press statement has given the government up to 19 June, 2022 to pay them the 20% cost of living allowance else they will embark on an indefinite strike.

Source: Samuel Afriyie Owusu|3news.com|Ghana