The Strong Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association has suspended its ongoing strike action due to a court injunction served on the organization by the National Labour Commission (NLC). The group has been in negotiations since 2019. The strike was to pressure the government to meet the demands for improved conditions of service.
In a fiery speech given to members today, Mrs. Ofori Ampofo stated: “In the face of the injunction, our respect for the courts coupled with our innate passion to serve our patients and for that matter the good people of Ghana, we have decided to temporarily suspend our strike action with effect from Thursday, 24 September 2020 at 8 am, pending the outcome of our negotiations.”
Whilst announcing the suspension of the strike, the leadership of the association asked all of its members to fully resume work from the morning shift on Thursday the 24 of September, at 8 am prompt.
Mrs. Ofori Ampofo further called for the halting of the intimidation of its members across the country when she said “We will not tolerate any form of intimidation or victimization from either our employers, their agents, or representatives in any facility. We want them to note that an attack on any nurse, midwife, PA, or CRA at any facility anywhere in the country is an attack on the entire fraternity. When it comes to our notice, we shall deliver the appropriate response.”
The group also called on managers of health facilities and institutions across the country to withdraw any action taken against its members for engaging in the strike action.
“Notice is hereby served that any facility manager who has taken any action against any nurse, midwife, PA, CRA for the fact that they participated in our strike must reverse those actions immediately for the larger interest of all of us.” Mrs. Ampofo strongly cautioned.
Our investigations unfurled the following as the key demands which necessitated the strike action by the GRNMA and its allied groups: 1. Fuel and car maintenance allowance 2. Professional development allowance 3. Accommodation/rent allowance 4. Uniform allowance 5. Book and Research allowance (for nurses who are also teachers) 6. Rural areas allowance 7. Transportation allowance 8. On-call duty allowanceIndications are that if the group’s demands are not met, the consequences could be another strike action as one of the leading members pointed out that ” Strike is the only language which brings the government to the negotiating table”.
Source:sankofaonline.com
