JUSAG Declares Indefinite Strike

The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) has declared an indefinite nationwide strike effective today, November 12, 2019.

The group says the action is a result of the government’s failure to review the salaries of its members.

The Association contends that the Judicial Council has also failed to release the report on their negotiations for onward approval by the President.

Addressing a news conference, the President of JUSAG, Alex Nattey charged all his members, except the security personnel not to show up at work tomorrow, Wednesday, 13th November, 2019.

“Following our letter issued on 1st November, 2019 giving notice of our intended strike regarding the demand for the salary reviews/negotiations of staff of the Judicial Service, there have been numerous meetings with Management and the National Labour Commission.

“The leadership of JUSAG had also requested for the report emanating from the Committee set up by the Judicial Council. Unfortunately, we have not received copies of the said report upon several demands.
After our meeting with the National Labour Commission on 11th November 2019, the leadership of JUSAG had a meeting with our Regional Executives and our rank and file. They resolved that since we have already complied with the procedures under the 1992 Constitution regarding our conditions of service, we should proceed accordingly. In view of the above, the leadership of JUSAG is left with no option than to declare an indefinite strike to demand the assenting and implementation of the Judicial Council report.”

JUSAG had served notice it will lay down its tools until further notice on November 13, 2019, if salaries of its members are not reviewed.

Even before that, the National Executive Council of JUSAG had asked Judicial Service Staff to put on red-arm bands and hoist red flags in the various courts to have their demands addressed.

On 1st October 2019, the Judicial Council mandated to review their salaries and other salary-related matters under the 1992, constitution, set up a committee and considered the proposals of the Association.

At the meeting, it resolved that decisions of the meeting will be forwarded to the President for approval and same captured in the National Budget for the year 2020.

But the association said it had however come to its attention that the Ministry of Finance had rather slated their salary review for the year 2020 and for implementation in the year 2021.

JUSAG has since 2015 been embarking on a series of strikes to press home demands for better conditions of service for its members.

The recent one was a 10-day strike which was called off by the association on June 1, 2016.

The strike was embarked on due to the government’s failure to consolidate salaries and allowances of members as approved by the Judicial Council in 2012.