Striking labour unions have expressed their disgust over government’s decision to use the courts to curtail their action.
They say the ex-parte order sought by the government is disappointing and a sign of bad faith on the part of the government.
“The Forum is disappointed that since last week Government has been touting a certain ex-parte injunction against the Forum,” Co-Ordinator of the 12 unions known as the Forum, Reynolds O. Tenkorang said in a statement issued on Monday.
According to the statement, as at 2pm today “not a single Union/Association has been served with a copy of the purported Court order”.
“Indeed, if such an order exists, Government has clearly not been diligent in bringing such an order to our attention, yet has quickly put it out in the public domain. This act, the Forum believes is a clear demonstration of bad faith.”
However, later in an interview with Joy News, the Ghana Medical Association and other unions have confirmed receiving the suit.
The statement by the unions also responded to government’s “false misrepresentation” as put out by the Minister of Communication claiming that Ghanaians including pregnant women and children were suffering deprivation of vital public services on account of the current strike.
“Our colleagues in the Health Sector have stated emphatically and have continued to provide the full range of their services and care for emergencies, pregnant women and inpatient services. This was contained in a joint statement dated 22nd October, 2014 issued by the Forum and accordingly challenge the Hon. Minister to state which Health facility is depriving Ghanaians of such services.”
Below is the full statement
FORUM
FOR PUBLIC SECTOR REGISTERED PENSION SCHEMES
3RD NOVEMBER, 2014
The Joint Forum of the Public Sector Registered Pension Schemes have worryingly observed certain acts and public statements by Government through some of its key officials on the ongoing impasse over the Tier 2 Pension funds for Public Sector workers and wish to state as follows that: at all material times prior and leading to our declaration of strike on 22nd October 2014, our action was legitimate, lawful and in the best interest of the future of workers in Ghana. In fact as far back as 30th June, 2014, the Forum served a two week notice of its intention to embark on a strike action to back its demand for the operationalization of the four schemes in the Health, Education, Judicial and the Civil and Local Government Services. This notice expired on 14th July 2014 without any resolution of the issue by our Employers.
(i) Again on 10th September, 2014, in another notice to the Employers, leadership of the forum cautioned against the present situation.
(ii) the Forum is disappointed that since last week Government has been touting a certain ex-parte injunction against the Forum. Although we have our offices in Accra and have been in negotiations with our Employer, it is surprising to note that as at 2pm today not a single Union/Association has been served with a copy of the purported Court order.
Indeed, if such an order exists, Government has clearly not been diligent in bringing such an order to our attention, yet has quickly put it out in the public domain. This act, the Forum believes is a clear demonstration of bad faith.
(iii) we wish to respond to the false misrepresentation by the Hon. Minister of Communication earlier today at a Press Conference that Ghanaians including pregnant women and children were suffering deprivation of vital public services on account of the current strike. Our colleagues in the Health Sector have stated emphatically and have continued to provide the full range of their services and care for emergencies, pregnant women and inpatient services. This was contained in a joint statement dated 22nd October, 2014 issued by the Forum and accordingly challenge the Hon. Minister to state which Health facility is depriving Ghanaians of such services.
(iv)we further state that the membership of the Forum are law abiding citizens. That notwithstanding, we would not rush to take decisions based on information being peddled through the press. We would therefore take the appropriate steps if we are duly notified of any existing Court order. We also assure our membership that the Forum will not renege on its quest to defend the rights of the Ghanaian worker.
CONCLUSION
We want to assure our members and the good people of Ghana that within the shortest possible time, we would address all the issues raised by the Hon. Minister and Government on the Tier 2 pensions.
ISSUED BY THE FORUM
DATED THIS 3RD NOVEMBER, 2014
CO -ORDINATOR
(REYNOLDS .O. TENKORANG)
(For and on behalf of all the Unions/Associations)
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