NLC to drag JUSAG to court over illegal strike

NLC to drag JUSAG to court over illegal strike

As the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) begins its strike today, the National Labour Commission has ruled that their action is illegal.

JUSAG on Tuesday declared an indefinite nationwide strike demanding better conditions of service — under the implementation of a Judicial Committee Council report.

The Association contends that Judicial Council has also failed to release the report on their negotiations for onward approval by the President.

But the National Labour Commission however says it is resorting to the court because JUSAG has breached sections of the labour laws.

Executive Secretary of the Commission Samuel Ofosu Asamoah told Accra-based Citi FM that: “The action by JUSAG is illegal. By the labour laws, when an action is pending before the commission or even when parties are in negotiations, wearing of armbands is not allowed, not alone strike. So the strike is not only illegal, but they are in contempt of the Commission.

“Because they are in contempt, we will drag them to court and cite them for contempt. In fact, I have directed the legal department to start preparations. [We are taking JUSAG to court] We are citing them for contempt and for more so, if they go on strike, it will be an illegal one”, he further explained.

He also warned that members of the Association risk losing salaries due them due to unlawful nature of the strike.

“The government will not pay for any illegal strike. The law provides that where a strike is illegal, the declarer of the strike should be ready to pay the salaries, allowances or whatever remuneration of the union members during the period of the strike.”

President of JUSAG, Alex Nattey has charged all his members not to show up at work today [Wednesday, November 13, 2019], except security personnel.

JUSAG had served notice it will lay down its tools until further notice on November 13, 2019, if salaries of its members are not reviewed.

Even before that, the National Executive Council of JUSAG had asked Judicial Service Staff to put on red-arm bands and hoist red flags in the various courts to have their demands addressed.

Source: DailymailGh.com with additional files from CNR