Striking nurses could suffer salary deductions – NLC warns
The National Labour Commission (NLC) has said members of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) on strike may face salary deductions for the month of September, Citi FM reported Monday.
The leadership of the GRNMA announced September 20, 2020, it’s members will today Monday, September 21, 2020, commenced the nationwide strike after the central government failed to meet their demands.
But the Executive Secretary of the NLC, Mr Ofosu Asamoah speaking in an interview with the Accra-based Citi FM monitored by Georgeweb.org said the striking nurses could face a salary deduction for September 2020.
This he said is because the members of the Association has ignored a court injunction against the ongoing industrial action on Friday.
According to the Commission, the salary deduction of the members will be based on the number of days they absent themselves from work as a result of the ongoing nationwide strike.
“There is a court order, a very laudable one against them, restraining them from embarking on the strike, and they’ve decided to defy the orders of the court and go ahead with an illegal strike. Four things come to play, first by law, if you engage in an illegal strike, you should not receive your salaries, wages or anything entitled to you during the period on which you are on strike.”
“If you engage in this illegal strike, it means that you have abandoned your post unlawfully and if it continues for a period, 10 days or more… you will be regarded as having deserted and your employers can terminate your appointment.”
Mr Ofosu Asamoah further said the leadership of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) in this situation risks contempt of court.
“For the participating workers in the unlawful strike, they risk losing their salaries, after some time, the risk of having their appointment terminated. The organizers of the strike risk being in contempt of court and then additional responsibilities of paying the striking workers,” the NLC Executive Secretary said as quoted by Citi News.
ALSO READ: Nurses, Midwives begin nationwide strike today
In a related development, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission has disclosed negotiations into the demands of the nurses are currently ongoing.
Source: Georgeweb.org
