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06.10.2015 Health

Unpaid Nurses Begin Nationwide Strike

By Daily Guide
Unpaid Nurses Begin Nationwide Strike
06.10.2015 LISTEN

The Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives Association has begun a nationwide sit-down strike to put pressure on government to pay their salaries arrears.

Knowing that strike is the only language the Mahama administration understands when it comes to industrial relations, the nurses threw caution to the wind and walked out of the wards yesterday, creating fear and panic; with the authorities recalling nurses on leave to save the situation.

The nurses and midwives claimed they have used all available means to get government to pay them their six to 22 months salaries but to no avail.

Comprising mostly of registered nurses, health assistants, community health nurses, mental health nurses and midwives, they have, therefore, resolved not to work till their monies are paid them.

The spokesperson of the coalition with membership of over 7,000, Douglas Adu-Fokuo, told journalists at a news conference prior to the strike that since 2011 when some of them completed their training and subsequently performed their internship, “some of us have not been paid between six and 22 months, a very disturbing issue that we are battling with.”

Mr Adu-Fokuo pointed out that after many meetings and negotiations with the ministers of Health and Employment and Labour Relations, it was agreed that their unpaid salaries/allowances would be paid by the ending of September.

However, “follow-ups to the various ministries as a reminder to the agreement to have our grievances addressed had proved futile,' he said, adding that until that is addressed, they would not work.

Just a week ago, nurses at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital also embarked on a similar strike over unpaid salaries, with the employment minister threatening to withdraw their salaries over the period of the strike. The striking nurses dared the minister to carry out the threat.

Accusation
President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, Kwaku Asante Krobea, accused the government of insensitivity in the handling of nurses and welfare issues of midwives.

He said the affected health workers 'are frustrated' and instead of solving their problem, the employment minister was issuing threats, warning that the health workers would be sacked.

'Hauna Iddrisu’s posture doesn't auger well for industrial relations,' he said, and urged him to 'rethink the decision', unless he 'is calling for trouble.'

A visit by DAILY GUIDE to some hospitals like the Ridge Regional Hospital, La General Hospital and the Adabraka Poly Clinic, however, showed a picture contrary to what the coalition has planned.

It was obvious that the decision taken by the leadership of the coalition had not reached the masses, as nurses were seen busily going about their duties despite the coalition's agreed strike.

At the Adabraka Polyclinic, the nurses at the OPD were attending to patients as usual, so was the case at the Ridge Regional and La General hospitals.

A nurse who spoke with DAILY GUIDE said she was not privy to any information on the intended strike by the coalition, but said she would support the group in their cause.

Douglas Adu-Fokuo, speaking with DAILY GUIDE about the poor adherence to the call of the coalition to strike, agreed the message might not have reached the members on time, but said the leadership was going round the hospitals to let them know about the strike.

He, nonetheless, said the indefinite sit-down strike would continue until all their unpaid salaries/allowances 'are cleared.'

He urged the members not to be intimidated by any threat either from their respective managements or the government.

'The leadership and members of the association have come to a crossroad after several unfulfilled promises from government and management, hence the strike,” he hinted.

By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri 

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