NIA staff declare indefinite strike

The Divisional Executive Council of the Public Services Workers' Union (PSWU) of the Ghana Trade Union Congress (TUC) NIA (National Identification Authority) Division has declared an indefinite strike starting from Monday, June 10, 2024.

In a statement seen by GhanaWeb, the executive council ordered that services provided by all of its members at the district offices, regional offices, headquarters, and premium centers of the NIA should cease indefinitely from Monday.

The leadership of the NIA indicated that they decided to embark on the strike after initially deferring it because the government had not met the conditions set for the deferment.

"Recall that the union deferred its intended strike scheduled for March 24, 2024, based on the intervention of the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations. The condition for the deferment of the strike action was that the government, represented by the FWSC and the management of NIA, facilitate the negotiation and implementation of better conditions of service for staff of the NIA, among others.

"However, the government has not shown good faith in the negotiation process. The Divisional Executive Council has therefore resolved to declare this indefinite strike in response to the heightened agitation of our members on the need to embark on an industrial action to highlight our poor and demeaning conditions of service," part of the statement reads.

The statement added, "Consequently, services provided by our members at all the NIA district offices, regional offices, headquarters, and premium centers will cease indefinitely from Monday, June 10, 2024, until further notice."

The executive council detailed the reasons for its strike as follows:

1. The Government of Ghana, represented by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, National Identification Authority, Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, and the Ministry of Finance and their collaborators, have blatantly defied a pre-negotiation condition provided for in section 2(v) of the Rules of Engagement. Section 2(v) of the Rules of Engagement mandates the parties to set timelines for the negotiations. This requirement has not been fulfilled months after commencing the negotiation. Parties to the negotiation (unions) do not know when the next meeting will be called after the last meeting was adjourned indefinitely.

2. The Government Team’s undue delays in the negotiation process.

3. The Government Team’s posturing and reluctance in granting the NIA institution-specific allowances.

4. Failure on the part of management to implement the approved scheme of service for the staff of NIA following the announcement of its approval on March 22, 2024.

Read the full statement below:

BAI/OBG

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