Fair Wages and Salaries Commission petitions NLC

Accra, June 28, GNA - The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), on Monday petitioned National Labour Commission (NLC) against the conduct of Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG) on the implementation of the Single Spin Salary Structure (SSSS). The petition is seeking the NLC to order CLOGSAG to return to the negotiating table under the terms of the Public Service joint Standing Negotiating Committee (PSJSNC) in order to ensure the successful take-off of the new Pay Policy on July 1.

The new Pay Policy seeks to ensure fairness, equity and transparency in government salary administration.

CLOGSAG had earlier on April 20, this year, petitioned the NLC against the FWSC on a non-response to their proposals for 2010 negotiation of salaries and the review of allowances among others. It also raised issues concerning the low and high grading structures in the Single Spine Pay Policy scheduled; strangely withdrew the case from NLC without assigning any reason.

The FWSC petition made available to Ghana News Agency in Accra by the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare also invoked section 154 the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) on settlement of industrial disputes. The Act stipulates that: "The parties to an industrial dispute are under an obligation to negotiate in good faith with a view to reaching a settlement of the dispute in accordance with the dispute settlement procedures established in the collective agreement or contract of employment.

"..Where the Commission is satisfied that the parties have not exhausted the procedures established in the collective agreement or have not agreed to waive those procedures, the Commission shall order the parties to comply with those procedures within such time as the Commission may determine".

The petition noted: "We wish to place on record that while CLOGSAG dragged FWSC to NLC under section 104 of the Labour Act, and then failed to prosecute the matter at the NLC in line with laid down procedures. "By their withdrawal of the matter from NLC, the leadership of CLOGSAG was engaging in acts that tended to be an infraction of the law - wearing of red bands, threat of strike action and issuing of ultimatum to FWSC to comply".

The FWSC noted its commitment and preference for operating within the confines of the law instead of the collision course engaged employed by CLOGSAG. 28 June 10