The Medical Laboratory Professional Workers’ Union (MELPWU) has given the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission a 14-day ultimatum to initiate and conduct conditions of service negotiations with the union, failing which the Commission should prepare for industrial action.
The union issued the ultimatum in a letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of the FWSC, serving as a final reminder for the union’s call for negotiations.
In the letter, dated January 26, 2024, Dr. Cephas Kofi Akortor, General Secretary of MELPWU, noted that despite submitting their proposals in January last year and sending numerous reminders for negotiations, the Commission has remained unresponsive and uncooperative.
“As you are well aware, we submitted proposals to your good office in January 2023 for the negotiation of our maiden Collective Agreement.”
“Our requests for fair working conditions, reasonable remuneration, and clearly defined policies have been repeatedly communicated to Management by MELPWU,” MELPWU’s General Secretary added in the letter, indicating that “it is disheartening to note the lack of urgency and Management’s approach in addressing our concerns.”
According to the union, the absence of standard conditions of service for members has left their rights and benefits as workers subject to the discretion and exploitation of some facility managers.
The union emphasized that this situation has left the members feeling undervalued and unappreciated despite the critical work they perform as medical laboratory science professionals for quality patient care, reminding the Commission that MELPWU is a legally registered trade union with a mandate to represent and negotiate for its members.
“Please take this as a formal notification to you that if after 14 days of the receipt of this letter, your outfit fails to take practical steps for us to negotiate, we shall be forced to take actions in respect to addressing our concerns,” the union stressed.
MELPWU secured a Collective Bargaining Certificate from the Chief Labour Officer in July 2022, empowering the union to represent and negotiate salaries and collective agreements on behalf of its over 5000 members across the country.
Explore the world of impactful news with CitiNewsroom on WhatsApp!
Click on the link to join the Citi Newsroom channel for curated, meaningful stories tailored just for YOU: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCYzPRAYlUPudDDe53x
No spams, just the stories that truly matter! 
#StayInformed #CitiNewsroom #CNRDigital
The post Medical laboratory workers issue ultimatum to FWSC for negotiations on conditions of service appeared first on Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana.
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS