Strike by mortuary workers will be a national disaster - Doctor

Library Assistant at the University of Ghana Medical School, Dr. Effah Baffour Gyemfi, has warned of dire consequences should mortuary workers in Ghana embark on their planned strike action.

Reacting to the hint given the Mortuary Workers Association to embark on a strike action over poor working conditions, Dr. Gyemfi urged the Ministry of Health to engage the mortuary workers and address their challenges to prevent them from striking.

He is also warning of an outbreak of infectious diseases should the mortuary workers be allowed to embark on their planned action.

"If mortuary men should embark on a strike, where are we going to preserve our bodies? Their strike will be a disaster for the country. We will not be able to handle their strike action. If mortuaries in Ghana fail to work for three days, all mortuaries would be full.''

"If the mortuary man does not work efficiently and preserve dead bodies, the public could be exposed to serious infectious diseases including Cholera.’’

Currently, there are about 400 mortuary workers nationwide in all our public health institutions.

The number the association says is woefully inadequate and straining their members who are not allowed to go on leave.

The association is also lamenting the poor salaries, lack of protective gears among others.

"It is to be noted that after several attempts, both in writing and calls to resolve an impasse with our employer, the Ministry of Health, the leadership of Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana (MOWAG) has no option than to resort to an industrial action of strike nationwide to drum home the pertinence of the socio-economic rights and interest of Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana (MOWAG)," the notice said.

"Accordingly, we are serving you and the Ministry of Health this notice of our intention to resort to a nationwide STRIKE ACTION starting from Tuesday 20th November 2018 in accordance with Section 159 of the Labour Act 2003 (651) if by 19th November, that is seven (7) working days from the date of this letter, our proposal that had been submitted to the Ministry of Health is not fully addressed," the notice said.