|
GMA should have complained to us - NLC
Accra, April 10, GNA - The National Labour Commission (NLC),
on Tuesday said the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) should
have complained to the Commission when their employer failed
to comply with the NLC’s rulings for appropriate action to
be taken.
The GMA said at a press conference on April 2 that the
government had ignored two rulings of the NLC made in
respect of a petition submitted to it on disagreements over
their conditions of service, namely, negotiations on a
collective bargaining agreement for their members and
abrogation of fuel allowance without any discussion with the
Association.
A statement signed by J K Bapuuroh, Executive Secretary of
the NLC, said the Commission made two orders on August and
December in respect to the two issues in the interest of
promoting harmonious industrial relations.
“The Commission had expected that the Association should
have complained to the Commission when their employer failed
to comply with the directives for the Commission to respond
appropriately. This is because when the Commission made the
directives, it did not have any reason to believe that they
would not be complied with by their employer.”
It said the Commission on April 5 received a formal
complaint from the GMA against the Ministry of Health for
its non-compliance with the Commission's order relating to
negotiations on a collective bargaining agreement and
abrogation of fuel allowance.
“The complaint is being studied for the necessary action to
be taken to have it settled.”
The statement noted that the GMA during a press conference
used the terms “Government” and “Ministry of Health”
interchangeable to refer to their employer.
“The Commission wishes to observe that the term “government”
used to refer to every public sector worker is misleading.
The fact is that though all public sector workers are
referred to as ‘Government workers’ they have individual
employers who are corporate personalities that can sue and
be sued.”
The NLC said it therefore found it inappropriate for the GMA
to accuse the government, as their employer, for failing to
comply with the directives of the Commission instead of
their real employer, Ministry of Health.
The Commission asked GMA and other public sector unions
would take note and act appropriately in their communication
with the NLC.
GNA
|
