The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) has suspended its two-day-old strike, after meeting with Management of the Judicial Service.
JUSAG had earlier maintained that its industrial action remained unabated after they called the bluff of the National Labour Commission (NLC) and the Judicial Service Council who had ordered them to resume work because the strike was illegal.
But in a statement issued today after meeting with the NLC, the Association has rescinded its decision and has agreed to return to the courtrooms.
“The Acting Chief Justice has approved that the issues raised at the said meeting will be forwarded to the Judicial Council. In view of the above, we have resolved to suspend our industrial strike action with immediate effect,” JUSAG said in a statement.
Courts in parts of the country came to a standstill with frustrated patrons as officials vacated the courtrooms and offices as part of the strike.
JUSAG began the nationwide indefinite strike on Tuesday over government’s failure to review the salaries of its members.
It also argued that the Judicial Council had failed to release the report on their negotiations for onward approval by the President.
Earlier today, the NLC secured an interlocutory injunction from the Accra High Court, restricting JUSAG from continuing with its strike.
JUSAG bows to pressure
JUSAG had earlier refused its strike despite a directive from the management of the Judicial Service asking the Association to return to work.
The group indicated that they disagreed with the Judicial Service Secretariat’s call on them to return to work.
“The attention of the National Executive Council (NEC) OF JUSAG has been drawn to a press statement issued by the Judicial Secretary dated 13th November, 2019 declaring our strike as illegal and directing our members to go to work. We write to state that we, respectfully, disagree with the position taken by government,” the statement said.