Lecturers' demand would create labour unrest - Civil Servants

Accra, May 16, GNA - The Civil Servants' Association of Ghana on Tuesday said the present impasse between the government and the University Lecturers over salaries and improved service conditions may create unnecessary labour unrest.

It said the action of the university lecturers is "a sabotage" of the implementation of the Ghana Universal Salary Structure, otherwise called the Price Waterhouse recommendation.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, an executive member of the association cautioned the government not to take any measure that would inflame public sector workers to agitate for more salaries, improved conditions of service and create unnecessary labour unrest.

He said the demand of the university lecturers, setting aside the approved salary structure for public workers, is at variance with the widely accepted Price Waterhouse recommendation.

"The desire of the lecturers to be treated as a special body from their counterparts in the public service does not fall in line with the broad government policy for determining salaries," he said, but stressed that civil servants are not against the lecturers' call for salary increases.

The executive member suggested that whatever the government and lecturers would arrive at should be within the approved salary structure and must be contained.

Lecturers in the country's universities on Monday embarked on a one-week strike to back their demands for salary increases and improved working conditions.