JUSAG Declare Strike Today

Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) would declare a nationwide strike today, Friday October 20, THE PUBLISHER has gathered.

The indefinite and nationwide strike action follows series of ultimatums to the government over the delay in the payment of rent allowances for JUSAG members. The last of such ultimatums was October 19, 2017.

The National Execute Committee (NEC) of JUSAG would announce the strike at a news briefing at 4pm today.

JUSAG has been stretched beyond bearable limits and therefore is compelled to embark on the sit-down strike as a last resort, THE PUBLISHER gathered from sources within he Association.

According to the source, JUSAG had reached the point of declaring a strike because negotiation with stakeholders had been unsuccessful.

It may be recalled that a letter addressed to the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations and signed by General Secretary of JUSSAG, Derrick Annan, had said the outstanding allowance has been in arrears since January 2017.

According to JUSSAG, if government fails to make the payment on or before October 19, 2017, the leadership of the Association will be forced to declare the industrial action to demand what is due JUSAG members.

“We, respectfully, reiterate that the rent allowance entitled our rank and file is explicitly stated in our conditions of service, and has received approval of the Judicial Council. This allowance has been outstanding since January 2017, and all efforts to receive payment have not yielded the needed response.”

“Upon failure to address the above on or before 19th October, 2017, we are enjoined to embark on industrial action to realize our legitimate demand. Respectfully, we count on the efforts of government and management to make payment of the rent allowance so as to fore-fend any industrial action,” the letter added.

This is not the first time JUSSAG is threatening to make its members lay down their tools over allowances.

JUSSAG earlier in April 2017 threatened a similar action to demand the payment of outstanding allowances which the association insists are embedded in the conditions of service of its members.

The action was subsequently suspended following a crunch meeting between leadership of JUSSAG and government representatives, including the Employment and Labour Relations Minister, Ignatius Baffour Awuah.

Source: Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson/ thePublisher