The Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) has expressed worry over how the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), is addressing the concerns of striking staff of the National Identification Authority (NIA).
According to PSWU, the FWSC has repeatedly ignored the grievances and appeals of NIA staff, despite numerous efforts to engage in constructive dialogue.
This frustration culminated in the Divisional Executive Council of PSWU, NIA Division, declaring an indefinite strike on Monday, June 10, 2024.
The strike action is in response to what the union describes as the government’s failure to provide better working conditions for NIA employees.
The Deputy General Secretary of the Public Services Workers Union, George Sampah in a statement, expressed the union’s deep frustration and determination to fight for the rights of its members.
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Mr. Sampah emphasised the union’s disappointment with various labour institutions, especially the National Labour Commission, accusing them of failing to uphold their mandate and protect the rights of workers.
“We are disappointed in most of the labour institutions in this country. Because you go to even the National Labour Commission, they will order the Fair Wages and the Ministry of Finance to give a mandate and to make sure that something is negotiated but it is never done. There is nothing that they can do against them. So we are disappointed. We are disappointed in Fair Wages that it can start negotiations that can take almost forever to be completed”.
The ongoing strike, initially planned for March 2024, was deferred due to the intervention of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations.
“The condition for the deferment of the strike action was that the government represented by the FWSC and the management of NIA facilitate the negotiation and implementation of better conditions of service for staff of the NIA, among others. However, the government has not shown good faith in the negotiation process.
“The Divisional Executive Council has therefore resolved to declare this indefinite strike in response to the heightened agitation of our members on the need to embark on an industrial action to drum home our poor and demeaning conditions of service,” a statement jointly signed by PSWU and NIA executives on June 9, 2024, noted.