Should Striking Workers be Paid in Ghana?

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• Caius Kongkuah 11 years ago

  I Think you may be right our leaders are not prepared to serve but want to be served and honored as if they are God.

  I Think you may be right our leaders are not prepared to serve but want to be served and honored as if they are God.

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• ADJOA WANGARA 11 years ago

  So long as they don't strike over 2 weeks they must be paid.
  
  After all Mahama and his NDC government have been striking since in power but they are paid besides their massive stealing and corruption.

  So long as they don't strike over 2 weeks they must be paid.
  
  After all Mahama and his NDC government have been striking since in power but they are paid besides their massive stealing and corruption.

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• Caius Kongkuah 11 years ago

  Great but this will not work as far as NPP and NDC exists in this country because every issue is been over politicized. May our leaders learn to serve Mother Ghana than themselves.

  Great but this will not work as far as NPP and NDC exists in this country because every issue is been over politicized. May our leaders learn to serve Mother Ghana than themselves.

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• Bonsu 11 years ago

  It is increasingly obvious that the labour movement had allowed itself to be tricked by people with political agenda into doing things that will make this government unpopular.What is happening is that, what the npp had faile ...
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  It is increasingly obvious that the labour movement had allowed itself to be tricked by people with political agenda into doing things that will make this government unpopular.What is happening is that, what the npp had failed to get through the ballot box,they are using their usual back door trick to make their political fortunes better in the next elections by making the country ungovernable as they promised.
  
  With their money and clout,they have managed to buy and usurped the leadership of organized labour and under the guise of fighting for the right of workers they are using them to achieve their aims.the truth of the matter is that they are playing big time politics with the labour movement and coning them people as a result.
  
  We have a system of government where a non performing government can be changed through the ballot box as defined by the constitution.This blatant attempt to undermine the present administration are signs that the opposition have no confidence in themselves.I wonder what will happen when they come to power if these labour leaders and politician who had infiltrated the union will be fighting as hard for workers right as they are pretending to be doing now.
  
  This government had not been tough as it should be as they have allowed the opposition to dictate the agenda and get the system out of control.Democracy has been hijacked and corrupted by people who think only of themselves and not the country.
  
  Customary elsewhere striking workers are not paid.It is the duty of the leaders to pay them when they call for strikes.It does seem like at the least excuse workers embank on strike because they get payed even for a flimsy excuse like "we want to know where our pension schemes are" when it is the duty of trustees to invest and account on behalf of workers and there is no evidence that the investment is lost to demand this labour unrest.This government must sit up

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• Annorwuo 11 years ago

  Ata Kofi,thev author of this piece was all over the map,doing his own ' shuffle' in this pointless and contrived labour agitation! Nowhere under the globe are striking workers,including those designated as essential ones,and ...
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  Ata Kofi,thev author of this piece was all over the map,doing his own ' shuffle' in this pointless and contrived labour agitation! Nowhere under the globe are striking workers,including those designated as essential ones,and thus banned from embarking on reckless industrial actions,are paid by the employer for doing NO WORK! And I have said time and again for this administration to show its mettle by getting rid of many of these corrupt and inefficient employees,who have become a heavy burden on our national treasury!
  Look,many of these individuals are still hanging on to anachronistic perks of the colonial era - free everything, including clothing allowances,which should have come to an end in 1957, when independence was attained!
  as far as I am concerned the govt,as an employer, has a just cause for dismissing en masse,all these public-sector workers;giving all those who occupy state bungalows,a 48-hr vacate order,and replacing them with highly-educated and exuberant unemployed graduates,who are looking for work!
  If the administration were to pull off a 'Reagan caper',many of the real and dedicated would break ranks and return to work,even with significant pay cuts! These workers who form a very small fraction of our workforce, but presently consume close to 70% of state revenues,must be taught a lesson they`ll never forget! Enough of this madness which doers not inure to the benefit of the masses in real distress.

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• Jojo Hammond, New Jersey 11 years ago

  Ghanaian workers have the right to strike to address any grievances after exhausting all prescribed avenues to seek redress. What they don't have a right to, in my humble opinion, is to expect to be paid when they are not wor ...
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  Ghanaian workers have the right to strike to address any grievances after exhausting all prescribed avenues to seek redress. What they don't have a right to, in my humble opinion, is to expect to be paid when they are not working. I am no Ghanaian Labour Law expert, but as a layman in that respect, it baffles my mind that workers go on strike for weeks, and sometimes months, and expect every penny (pesewa) for all the days that they are out not working. If the Unions in Ghana are expected to or made to pay their members from a designated strike fund, we would definitely have less strikes and more negotiations. Do Ghanaian Unions have strike funds? If not, why not? The only reason could be because Unions in Ghana are not in any danger of losing pay during strike periods. This concept, I am sure is alien to the Ghanaian Union culture. That should stop !!!
  
  As a strong believer in Unions, I also sometimes marvel at the use of strikes as the only means of attaining workers' goals. The society as a whole suffers when we fallow without producing anything.
  
  I am sure there are bodies set up, hopefully independently, to address issues between organized labour and employers in Ghana. Let's strengthen these bodies to do their work and reduce the incidence of strikes in our country.
  
  Let's us not be politically naive - NPP may not be behind the strikes but who benefits from making the gov't of the day unpopular? Some may think that the foul atmosphere these agitations create favour the opposition, hence the appearance of not so subtle ways of encouraging these agitations. The result will be worse economic condition, digging ourselves a deeper hole, which will be difficult for any gov't, this one and future ones, to dig themselves out of.
  
  There is an Akan proverb, roughly translated, which says when your neighbor's beard is on fire, look for water and place it by your side, because next time the beard that would be on fire could be yours.
  
  If strike (or striking) is the only weapon/means available to the current generation of workers' leaders, who says they would not use it against the next gov't, NDC, NPP or any other?
  
  Thanks, Kofi for starting this conversation.

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• YAW 11 years ago

  Very thoughtful.Do not work too hard.

  Very thoughtful.Do not work too hard.

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• Jojo Hammond, New Jersey 11 years ago

  Thanks. Unfortunately, unlike elsewhere (shall remain nameless) "not working too hard" is not an option for me. Hahaha

  Thanks. Unfortunately, unlike elsewhere (shall remain nameless) "not working too hard" is not an option for me. Hahaha

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• LONTO-BOY 11 years ago

  MASSA KOFI, this is a very objective and interesting piece. I believe in Ghana most of the striking workers are public sector workers. They have the right to strike demanding pay rise, pension security[or against pension refo ...
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  MASSA KOFI, this is a very objective and interesting piece. I believe in Ghana most of the striking workers are public sector workers. They have the right to strike demanding pay rise, pension security[or against pension reforms], and for better working conditions. Honestly, I believe striking workers should NOT be paid while on strike.
  
  In the UK, for example, as a rule, striking workers do not get paid by their employers. That is why if an industrial action is sanctioned by the Trade Union, then, that union has to pay the striking [member] workers from its own fund. This may not be the case in Ghana. Excuse my ignorance, here. So, whether the workers strike on reasonable grounds or are being used as a pawn in a political game, they should not be paid.
  
  Government money is taxpayers' money and not charity money. The Government loses money by impact of strike actions, which have detrimental effect on the economy. Employees/public sector workers have the right to strike, but have no right to hold the country to ransom.

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• GOLD COAST 11 years ago

  As much as yours truly supports workers in their demand for better pay,good benefits and ironclad pension - their employer(s) should not be under any obligation to pay them while on strike. Both the employer(s) and workers sh ...
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  As much as yours truly supports workers in their demand for better pay,good benefits and ironclad pension - their employer(s) should not be under any obligation to pay them while on strike. Both the employer(s) and workers should have bargaining chips to resolve their differences at the table. The employer - in this case the government,will be at a disadvantage as pressure mounts(from the public)for a quick resolution.
  
  If the government caves in to the workers' demands - as we have witnessed in strikes over many decades - it becomes weak while the workers become bold and disinclined (as they get paid anyway) to cooperate and join the government,for a fair and balanced agreement the next time.
  
  To boost its bargaining position,the government should not pay striking workers. The unions should have a strike fund to support their members for the duration of the strike. Paying striking workers does not exist even in rich countries like US and Britain.
  
  As Kofi stated,Margaret Thatcher broke the backs of the unions in Britain.At the same time in the US - as history shows - Ronald Reagan fired all air traffic controllers who did not heed his call to go back to work.Those who went back to work were not paid for time out.
  
  Workers who go on strike in Ghana should not be paid.
  
  PEACE

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• Annorwuo 11 years ago

  Are 'double-dippers' [have other sources of incomes,including the lousy 'union work' they do]anyway,and could care less about what the rank and file,who lead a life of hand-to-mouth existence in remote corners of this country ...
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  Are 'double-dippers' [have other sources of incomes,including the lousy 'union work' they do]anyway,and could care less about what the rank and file,who lead a life of hand-to-mouth existence in remote corners of this country! Look at the stately chair that the NAGRAT boss is seated in,in one of these shots shown on this website,and ask yourself if this guy,and any of his colleagues,really care about the average worker they claim to represent. Hell no! And that is why they have not heeded the call from their membership to give a transparent financial accounting of their stewardship.

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• Chris 11 years ago

  Good suggestion. You really LOVES your country.
  God Bless

  Good suggestion. You really LOVES your country.
  God Bless

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• DOTSE SEDEM. Ho 11 years ago

  By striking, workers who are the main brain behind national development, will have their grievances adressed to their satisfaction. so they must be paid what is due them now.

  By striking, workers who are the main brain behind national development, will have their grievances adressed to their satisfaction. so they must be paid what is due them now.

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• ERIC 11 years ago

  KOFI YOU HAVE SAID ALL,CONGRATIS

  KOFI YOU HAVE SAID ALL,CONGRATIS

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• Schengen 11 years ago

  1. If you mention the severance pay of teachers (6000 lump sum and 300 monthly) you have to contrast that with the benefits parliamentarians receive when they leave parliament so the reader can know the difference. You only m ...
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  1. If you mention the severance pay of teachers (6000 lump sum and 300 monthly) you have to contrast that with the benefits parliamentarians receive when they leave parliament so the reader can know the difference. You only mentioned those of teachers...
  
  2. A little more in-depth discussion of the relationship between labour, employers and government could have been welcomed especially since we have a government that pays lip service to social democratic principles. The discussion could have highlighted the points at which the NDC government diverts from core social democratic values both in theory and in practice.
  
  3. The pension funds discussion also seems a bit inadequate.
  
  4. Lastly, but not the least important, Kofi Ata could have more carefully read over his work to pluck out those petty grammatical mistakes - not things he doesn't know to correct but felt too lazy to do so.
  
  "Otherwise okay?" to quote John Cleese in my favourite episode of Fawlty Towers.

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• Lawrence 11 years ago

  The author of the article has raised importnat issues about whether we should pay workers or not when they go on strike. Let us deal with that issue and stop marking the grammatical errors in the article. I was the first to r ...
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  The author of the article has raised importnat issues about whether we should pay workers or not when they go on strike. Let us deal with that issue and stop marking the grammatical errors in the article. I was the first to raise this issue in my article yesterday but did treat it extensively as Kofi has done. I support the argument that Labor Unions should be made to pay for their striking workers. That way, opposition parties would not have the opportunity to use workers to destroy our country, unless they are prepared to pay the striking workers.

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