By Michael Ahinsah
The General Secretary of the Public Service Workers Union (PSWU), Mr. Bernard Adjei has expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s inability to meet the demands of Public Service workers.
Mr. Adjei in an interview on the Uniiq breakfast drive indicated that union workers will remain adamant in their request for the 60% increment in the base pay on Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS).
“Until Government is realistic and comes properly to the table, we think that the 60% is fair and if Government demonstrates to us that indeed they care about the ordinary Ghanaian worker and they recognize and acknowledge the sacrifices we have been making over the years then we can talk”, he said.
He explained that their demand is for the government to ensure that the base pay and the minimum wage are brought to the same level with a 10 percent increase per the agreement on the Single Spine Salary Structure whiles the cost of living allowance is incorporated into the salaries.
He posited that the government seems to overlook certain measures that can be put in place to ensure that demands are met whiles managing economic crisis. He also suggested that government expenditure should be cut down to allow funds to be allocated to more important ventures.
“There are other expenditure lines there which should not be there. If we are really in crisis, you demonstrate that we are increasing, and you don’t do cosmetic surgery because it will expose you. So we think that there are still things government can do but it is not doing.”
He further admonished the government to avoid spontaneous decision-making and consult all stakeholders to share ideas on the best way to execute plans.
“If you check the best practices in other jurisdictions when there is a crisis like this we will all come together as a country and you don’t come and say this is what I want to do and so bite the bullet. We all sit down and agree,” he posited.
