Alhaji Mahamadu Assibi Azonko, the President of the Civil and Local Government Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG), on Tuesday appealed to members of the Association to be patient as their national executives continued negotiations with the government for better salaries.
He said CLOGSAG would not accept any pay policy that would be at the disadvantage of it members.
Addressing members of the Association at a presentation ceremony after the celebration of the May Day in Sunyani, Alhaji Azonko said the Association appreciated dialogue in addressing grievances than unnecessary industrial actions that affected productivity.
The National Executives of CLOGSAG presented a brand new Toyota pickup vehicle to the Brong-Ahafo Regional branch of the Association as the best region.
Some other members received table top refrigerators, laptop computers, mobile phones and certificates of merit.
Alhaji Azonko said even though the new pay policy (Single Spine Salary Structure) was laudable, CLOGSAG members were still not placed on an appreciable level.
He said in the midst of high competitive labour unions, members should be wary of other unions “whose main agenda is to strategize to break our ranks by trying to sow all forms of discord within us”.
He reiterated that the national executives would continue to work hard to uplift the image of the Association and also ensure that premium was placed on the conditions of service of members.
Alhaji Azonko stated that, grass roots democracy could not be achieved without the efforts of CLOGSAG and that no government could make progress without the cooperation of civil and local government staff.
“Nobody possesses the local government more than members of CLOGSAG”, he said, explaining that it was for this and other reasons that the government should ensure that members were put on a better scale in the SSSS.
Mr. Isaac Bampo Addo, Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG, advised members of the association to stand firm and remain resolute in order not to pave the way for other labour unions to create divisions amongst them.
He said the only way members could earn better conditions of service was for them to cooperate and work assiduously for increased productivity and advised them to make discipline be their hallmark.**