The Member of Parliament (MP) for Akuapim South, Osei Bonsu Amoah has disclosed that the current rate of strikes on the labour front was caused by President John Mahama’s economic policy.
He said President John Dramani Mahama brought these problems upon himself.
O.B Amoah was commenting on the latest twist to University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG)’s strike action on Adom TV’s ‘badwam’ programme on Thursday.
UTAG is in a stand-off with government after a failed meeting with the Chief of Staff on Wednesday.
The Association has insisted on bulk payment of their 2012 market premium but the Public Relations Officer (PRO) for Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), Earl Ankrah disclosed that his outfit will not be forced into accepting the request made by UTAG.
The MP explained that the current spate of strike actions is due to a change in government policy.
He said the policy is to revamp the economy by cutting down expenditure.
He said although the President warned in his State of the Nation Address this year that ‘the meat had come to the bones’ labour groups are not convinced.
He said the lavish spending on shady projects and unbudgeted expenditure during the 2012 elections had created conditions for labour to insist on its share of the national cake.
Five labour groups have embarked on strike this year. They are the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), which suspended medical services to National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) cardholders.
This has been followed National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Concerned Teachers Association (CCT), the Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union and now UTAG.
myjoyonline