By Stephen Kwabena Effah
June 13, 2013
The National
Labour Commission has applied to the Accra Financial High Court to compel
members of the Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) to call
off their strike action which has caused major upset in government health
facilities across the country.
It is further
seeking an order compelling the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to enforce
its (NLC) judgement of January 25, 2013 relating to the conversion difference
of the members of GHOSPA.
The case, which came
up in court yesterday, was, however, adjourned when it emerged that the NLC was
short-served with the affidavits in opposition filed by the GHOSPA and FWSC on
June 11 and yesterday, respectively.
When the case was
called, counsel for NLC, Afiba Amihere, told the court, presided over by
Justice John Ajet-Nasam, that in view of the short service of the respondents’
affidavits on them, they would need time to study it and respond appropriately.
She said that has
become necessary because of certain depositions made by the FWSC in their
affidavit in opposition which she described as “highly unprofessional”, hence
prayed the court for time to clarify those issues raised therein.
“My lord, they
(FWSC) are taking all of us for a big ride,” she told the court.
Responding,
counsel for the FWSC, Augustine Ahamey, said “it is not fair to castigate us
when the merit of the case is yet to be gone into”.
In view of the
development, the court adjourned the case to May 20.
The action by the
NLC to go to court was necessitated by the strike action declared by the
members of GHOSPA who are claiming that the FWSC has short-changed them on
issues relating to their migration onto the Single Spine Salary Structure
(SSSS).
The strike action,
which is in its eighth week, was called by the executives of GHOSPA to press
home their demand for the full implementation of NLC’s ruling of January 25 and
February 23, 2013 on their conversion difference and
grading structure under the SSSS.
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