NLC calls on GMA to call off strike and resume negotiations

Accra, May 18, GNA - The National Labour Commission (NLC) on Monday appealed to Ghana Medical Association (GMA) to reconsider its position to save precious Ghanaian lives and therefore asked them to call off their strike.

A statement signed by Mr Mohammed Affum, Public Affairs Officer of NLC, said the Commission was in constant discussions with the executives of GMA as well as the Ministry of Health and a meeting had been scheduled for Tuesday, May 19, to continue with their negotiations. The NLC said it had taken note of a press statement by GMA to the effect that in furtherance of its demand for increased salaries, doctors in public hospitals would work from 0800 hours 1700 hours as civil servants and that there would be no night and weekend duties effective today, Monday, May 18, 2009.

The statement, which was attributed to the President of the Association, Dr Emmanuel Adom Winful, said if no appropriate response was received from the government, all doctors would attend to only emergencies from May 25 to May 30. It reminded the GMA that its action to "work-to-rule" amounted to a strike that has been embarked upon without recourse to the dispute resolution procedures provided for in the Labour Act. The statement further reminded the GMA that its members provided health and hospital services which according to regulation 20(c) of LI 1833 were essential services and were therefore prohibited from resorting to a strike as any such strike could result in loss of life and pose danger to public health and safety. 18 May 09