Strike: Government must be transparent in the negotiation with unions – Austin Gamey

Labour analyst Austin Gamey has urged the government to be transparent in negotiations with public sector workers’ unions in the country.

This follows the Medical Laboratory Professionals’ Workers Union directing its members to resume work on Monday, June 24, announcing a suspension of their industrial action.

The union has been negotiating with the government for the past two years without success. This led members to strike on Monday, June 17, 2024, to pressure the government to conclude negotiations.

Following a directive by the National Labour Commission (NLC), the union has decided to suspend the industrial action.

Speaking to Starr News, the analyst stated that the government has failed to address issues affecting Ghanaian workers.

“For the past two years, a ruling has been made and the workers have been very honest with the employer and open to negotiation. However, the employer has failed in its duty. The Labour Commission was very clear in its statement yesterday,” Mr. Gamey stated.

He continued, “They really told the employer what needs to be done, so we strongly believe that a decision and resolution will be reached. It's only fair for the executives to inform their council about this outcome and decide on their next steps.”

“The workers are concerned and troubled by the employer’s behaviour. Most of the time, it's the employer’s mistake, not the workers’. Almost all ongoing issues are due to the employer’s problems, not the workers’ or the union’s. The employer needs to introspect and rectify their approach to negotiations," Mr. Gamey emphasized.

“If they lack the funds, they should be upfront and inform the workers, saying, ‘We don’t have the funds.’ The workers will then decide whether to endure the consequences. However, if they continue promising for two years without delivering, it's deceitful.”