Story: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
More workers’ union have joined other labour unions in the country to demand what they termed Cost of Living Allowance (COLA).
Already four teacher unions are on strike over the 20 percent COLA.
The latest workers to join the strike if their demands are not met by Tuesday, July 19, 2022, are the 65 public service institutions operating under the banner Public Services Workers’ Union (PSWU).
Speaking on the GTV’s Breakfast Show on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, the National Chairman of the PSWU, Brother Ken Tweneboah Koduah announced that his outfit has given the government a seven-day ultimatum to meet their 20% COLA.
He maintained that failure on the part of the government to meet their un-negotiable demand of 20% COLA by July 19, 2022, will result in a nationwide sit-down.
According to Tweneboah Koduah, the decision to strike after the seven-day ultimatum deadline is not met was taken at an emergency meeting on July 8, 2022.
The National Chairman of the PSWU said, “In the midst of rising cost of living, inflation currently pegged at 27.6% (with a propensity to rise further), and pending astronomical increases in utility tariffs, the economic analysis which formed the basis of our acceptance of a 1-year salary increment for the year 2022 has obviously been thrown out of gear.”
“Considering the worsening economic challenges, members of the PSWU are left with no other option but to draw attention to their economic wellbeing,” he added.
Various groups including the Union of Professional Nurse and Midwives have also joined calls by some public sector workers for the government to pay them the 20% allowance.
