JUSAG Maintains Strike Until Government Addresses Conditions of Service Dispute

The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) says its members will continue their indefinite industrial action until government addresses concerns over the revised conditions of service and ensures that the approved arrangements comply with the applicable legal provisions.

The association is asking President John Dramani Mahama to ensure that the revised conditions of service submitted by the Judicial Council are fully reflected in the final approval. It argues that provisions relating to the entitlements of Judicial Service staff cannot be selectively approved.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday, November 9, JUSAG General Secretary Abdulai Yakubu said the disagreement centres on what the association considers a failure to fully incorporate the provisions of Constitutional Instrument 141 (CI 141) into the President’s approval.

He maintained that the approved conditions of service did not adequately reflect the entitlements recommended by the Judicial Council.

“Where the law provides that ABC should be given to Judicial staff, in our humble opinion, it is not for the President to pick and choose out of that and so what was approved did not conform with the provisions of CI 141, as was recommended by the Judicial Council and to that extent, we indicated that the President’s approval should be revised to meet what has been given to staff by law,” he said.

Mr. Yakubu disclosed that the association had received indications that government would communicate its position on the matter on Monday evening, November 9, following which a meeting was expected to take place.

He expressed hope that the engagement would lead to a resolution of the outstanding concerns and allow the association to call off the strike.

“We have had an indication that this Monday evening, a communication will come and a meeting will be held and there is hope that our demands will be met so we could announce to the public that the strike has come to an end,” he added.

JUSAG began an indefinite strike on Monday, November 2, following the government's failure to approve the proposed review of salaries and related allowances for Judicial Service staff.

The association has maintained that the revised conditions of service submitted by the Judicial Council should be approved in a manner that reflects the provisions of CI 141.

The industrial action has disrupted the operations of the Judicial Service, with staff withdrawing their services over unresolved concerns about remuneration and employment conditions.

The dispute now hinges on whether government will revise its approval to address the association's demands and reach an agreement that would enable Judicial Service staff to resume work.