Health Services Workers' Union appeals to members to remain calm

Accra, Oct. 11, GNA - The Health Services Workers' Union (HSWU) on Tuesday appealed to members not to yield to any form of incitement coercion or influence from any professional association but remain calm and committed to the Union.

It asked them to continue to deliver diligent services to their clients while the Union concluded negotiations with the Fair Wages and Salaries commission (FWSC) on the outstanding issues and concerns raised during the stakeholders' forum.

The appeal was made in a statement issued in Accra by Mr Abu D. Kuntulo, General Secretary of HSWU copied to the Ghana News Agency. The Union called on members not to join any professional association in the health sector which had different interests to resort to industrial action but to exercise restraint in the face of threat, intimidation and incitement.

It called on the FWSC to remain resolute to the guiding principles of job evaluation and salary administration which would lead to fair placement of all health sector workers onto the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS).

The statement urged government, employers and management of the health sector to be mindful of the consequences of negative actions that might constitute discrimination or unfair labour practice among HWSU members and its professional associations. "Therefore, any erosion of our shared values such as professionalism, team work, team spirit and discipline which are hallmark of maintenance of industrial peace and harmony would not be accepted," it added.

The Union said considering the road map adopted at the end of the Dodowa meeting, discussions on the outstanding concerns that is determination of market premium, final pay grade structure and date of migration of health sector workers onto the SSSS were yet to be concluded between the FWSC and all health sector unions and associations.

On the determination of the market premium, the Union reminded the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) that discussions were on-going therefore its perception that the issue would not be favourable to them was unprofessional and contrary to principles of negotiations and collective bargaining.

The Union therefore urged the GMA to call off their industrial action and return to the negotiation table in the interest of patients in order to maintain the dignity and integrity of health care providers.

The statement noted that migration of workers onto the SSSS was not a one-off issue but a process and GMA's demand that the position of District Director of Health Services (DDHS) which was created by an Act of Parliament (Act 525) be made administrative to attract allowances was not negotiable under the under the SSSS. 11 Oct. 11