Judicial Council asks striking JUSAG members to call off strike

The Judicial Council has asked the Judicial Service Staff Association (JUSAG) to call off its indefinite strike forthwith, and return to work while efforts were underway to address their grievances.

A statement issued by the Council at the end of a meeting on Monday, May 23, acknowledged that the strike had disrupted the work of the Courts throughout the Country.

J USAG last Friday declared an indefinite nationwide strike over what it said were delays in the implementation of the consolidated salaries and emoluments of members of the association. According to JUSAG, members were to restore services only after their demands were met. 

The action has effectively crippled work at the courts throughout the country.

The Council, while expressing deep concern that it has taken some time for the negotiations to be concluded and for the grievances of JUSAG to be addressed, said until the strike action by JUSAG, the Judicial Council had made every effort to address their concerns, acknowledging also that there had been negotiations between the Government and JUSAG on the issue.

'The Council wishes to assure JUSAG that during the said meeting the Council met with the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations and impressed upon him the need to expedite the resolution of the matter', it said, adding that 'In accordance with the Labour Act, 2003, Act 651 the Council earnestly requests JUSAG that while the negotiations are ongoing they should call off, forthwith, the strike which is disrupting the work of the Courts throughout the Country.'

'The Judicial Council would like to assure the General Public that it is doing everything possible to get the Government to play its part to resolve the problem and bring closure to the matter.'