The National Labour Commission (NLC) has ordered the Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) to immediately end its strike action.
The directive was issued on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, after the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and PSWU appeared before the NLC. The commission summoned both parties—PSWU and the government team led by FWSC, along with the Ministry of Employment, Labour Relations, and Pensions (MELRP) and Ministry of Finance—over a labour dispute.
The NLC’s intervention followed a notice from PSWU on October 14, 2024, indicating its intention to begin industrial action on October 21, 2024, in response to unresolved demands for two institution-specific allowances for its members.
In addition to ordering the PSWU to call off the strike, the NLC directed both sides to resume negotiations on the allowances by October 31, 2024, and to report the outcome to the commission by November 6, 2024. The parties were urged to negotiate in good faith to resolve the impasse.
The NLC’s mediation seeks to foster a resolution between the union and the FWSC, maintaining a peaceful industrial relations environment. Under the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), the NLC plays a crucial role in settling labour disputes. By suspending the strike, the commission has paved the way for constructive dialogue.
Responding to the NLC’s directive, Prof. Charles Adabo Oppong, Director of Grievances and Negotiations at FWSC, expressed appreciation for the commission’s intervention and reaffirmed the FWSC’s commitment to resolving the outstanding issues through continued engagement with the PSWU.
Background
On October 15, 2024, the PSWU announced plans to embark on an indefinite strike from October 21, 2024, citing delays by the government, through the FWSC, in finalizing negotiations over two specific allowances due to its members.