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The Northern Region branch of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) has joined the nationwide strike declared by the Association to demand the implementation of a special salary structure and improved conditions of service for its members.
The strike, which commenced on Monday, March 09, follows a directive by the National Executive Council (NEC) of CLOGSAG after what the Association described as years of unfulfilled commitments by government regarding the implementation of a negotiated salary framework for civil and local government workers.
Mr Yushawu Abdul-Latif, Northern Regional Secretary of CLOGSAG, told the Ghana News Agency in Tamale that the industrial action had become necessary after prolonged engagements with government failed to yield results.
He said discussions between CLOGSAG and government on the introduction of a special salary framework began in 2019 to address the unique administrative and regulatory responsibilities of civil and local government staff.
Mr Abdul-Latif said after extended negotiations, two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed outlining improved conditions of service, including the implementation of the new salary structure. However, he said the implementation, initially scheduled to begin in January 2023, had been postponed several times.
He said the latest commitment by government was to implement the structure from January 01, 2025, but that had still not been honoured.
He noted that despite several reminders to the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), the Association had not received any clear response on the implementation timeline, a situation he said had created widespread frustration among civil and local government workers across the country.
The Regional Secretary said CLOGSAG had earlier issued ultimatums in July 2024 and June 2025, warning that failure by government to act would compel members to embark on industrial action.
He said the continued delays, often attributed to budgetary constraints and administrative bottlenecks, had deepened concerns among members, who felt their welfare had been neglected.
Mr Abdul-Latif also raised concerns about what he described as selective implementation of the new salary structure, noting that reports suggested the framework had been applied to some staff of the Ministry of Finance, while the majority of civil service workers had not benefited.
He said such partial implementation created inequality within the public service and undermined unity among workers.
Mr Abdul-Latif stressed that the prolonged delay in addressing the concerns of civil and local government workers had affected morale and could negatively impact public service delivery if not addressed urgently.
He said the strike was intended to draw government’s attention to the plight of workers and compel authorities to honour commitments made under the negotiated agreements.
He called on government to engage CLOGSAG leadership in good faith to resolve the impasse and restore confidence among workers.
He assured the public that the Association remained open to dialogue but insisted that concrete steps must be taken to implement the agreed salary framework to bring lasting resolution to the matter.
Source: GNA