Volta Health Workers Threaten Strike Over Working Conditions

The Volta regional chapter of the Health Services Workers’ Union (HSWU) has threatened to go on a sit-down strike if their working conditions, including their market premiums which have remained static since 2012, are not reviewed.

The group says the failure of the government to automate their annual increases in pay at the Controller General’s department compels some members of the union to pay bribes at the department.

Leader of the Volta regional chapter of the HSWU, Harriet Sobuor Amponsah, told Citi News they, among other things, want the government to launch and implement the laboratory policy which was signed in 2013 under then-Minister of Health, Sherry Ayitey.

“We are a step below our colleague nurses. Meanwhile, we are all diploma holders. We were all trained by the employer. We are all critical staff. Why are we a step lower than our colleagues. We are saying that we have written enough letters. We have done enough consultations. The meetings are over.”

“We are telling you Fair Wages and Salaries Commission that refusing to review the salary structure for us to be at par with the diploma nurses means that we no more matter in the health service and so we will sit and watch only the nurses work,” she exclaimed.

The Health Services Workers’ Union (HSWU) had earlier given the government a two-week ultimatum to address their concerns or face their wrath.

The Association stated the government has for the past seven years discriminated against its members by failing to upgrade their salaries and conditions of service.

Some other concerns of the Union are the selective implementation of the collective agreement, payment of market premium based on their current monthly basic salary, salary distortion under the Single Spine Salary Structure, non-implementation of National Health Laboratory Policies, no increment in credits, upgrade of three-level grades to four.