The Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, has appealed to the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana to suspend its nationwide strike and return to the negotiating table, assuring the union that the government is committed to resolving its concerns.
Speaking in an interview with JoyNews, Mr Pelpuo said he has engaged both the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the leadership of CLOGSAG to better understand the union’s demands.
He added that discussions with Cassiel Ato Forson had yielded a firm commitment to address the matter.
“I don’t want a situation where it’s like somebody carrying a log behind you and intending to hit you — and therefore you have to make a decision here and there,” he said, describing the kind of pressure-driven negotiations he hopes to avoid.
The minister acknowledged that communication between the National Labour Commission, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, and CLOGSAG broke down ahead of the strike, noting that both institutions were unable to engage the union before the industrial action began.
“I didn’t know about the strike at that very moment,” he admitted.
CLOGSAG’s Executive Secretary, Isaac Bampoe Addo, confirmed that a one-hour meeting with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission on March 9 ended without an agreement.
According to him, the union’s National Executive Council has not called off the strike.
The association says it remains unmoved because there is still no clear roadmap for resolving the issues at the centre of the dispute.
Mr Pelpuo, however, urged the union to trust the government’s assurances and suspend the strike while negotiations continue.
“Strikes should be the last resort,” he said, adding that the government is willing to listen and work with labour unions to address their concerns.
He also warned that prolonged industrial action could have wider consequences for the country and the workers themselves.
“All of us are going to suffer,” the minister said.
The ongoing strike by CLOGSAG has disrupted work across several government offices nationwide, adding to growing concerns about labour disputes in the public sector and their impact on service delivery.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com