The Executive Secretary of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG), Mr. Isaac Bampoe Addo, has refuted comments by the public, including civil society organisations as well as social and political commentators questioning the justification of the payment of “neutrality allowance’’ demanded by the leadership of CLOGSAG for its members.

According to him, the nomenclature “neutrality allowance’’ is not justified in the media but on the negotiation table. He further noted that the neutrality allowance was only a minute part of a broader conditions of service the Association was demanding from Government.

Stating that the various allowances demanded have been justified on the negotiation table which have been signed and sealed, he called on people with opposing views to go and find comfort on their beds as the Association awaits implementation.

“We have justified whatever allowances that will be given at the negotiation table. It’s been signed and sealed. So, if you don’t understand, go and sleep’’, he said.

He hinted that CLOGSAG should be commended because as a registered union, it had the right to bargain for its members on its own terms. “This has been the focus of CLOGSAG in channeling its activities for the common good of its members”, he explained.

The Executive Secretary, who was giving an update on the ongoing industrial action at a media briefing in Accra, on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, noted that, the National Labour Commission (NLC) has asked the Finance Ministry to come out with the payment plan, adding that the leadership and the Ministry would meet the NLC on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, to find a lasting solution to the impasse.

He stressed that the Association would continue with its industrial action until all issues raised were addressed.

CLOGSAG has been on strike since Thursday, April 21, 2022, demanding, among other things, the immediate payment of their neutrality allowance.

This follows a statement released by the Association on April 5, 2022, which explained that the government had failed to honour an agreement on the payment of allowance on January 20, 2022. The statement further directed members at the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to stop going to work.

He assured its members of the leadership’s commitment to ensure that they received what they were entitled.

Touching on the declaration of nationwide strike by the Ghana Trades Union Congress, should government fail to peg the national minimum wage for workers at inflation level, Mr. Bampoe Addo disassociated CLOGSAG from such threats.

“Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG) would wish to state, unequivocally, that it was not party to such decisions and dissociates itself from such threats”, he noted.

Citing a publication in the Daily Graphic (No. 21867) dated Friday, 22nd April, 2022, captioned; “Don’t blame economic challenges on Russia-Ukraine war – TUC tells government”, the Executive Secretary hinted that the threat of a nationwide strike by the Congress contradicted some sections of a March 1, 2022, Kwahu Declaration.

Adding that, the Kwahu Declaration called for an “Improved co-ordination between FWSC and the Ministry of Finance and all other relevant agencies to determine clearly annual wage baskets allowed for negotiations. This means there is a limit to the quantum of money for negotiation and this will be determined between FWSC and Ministry of Finance”.

According to him, the declaration was signed by the TUC on the blind side of other unions. The TUC is throwing dust into the eyes of workers. The Association alleged the TUC to be ‘’untruthful’’ with Ghanaian workers in its engagement with government regarding their conditions of service.

At the media briefing, the Executive Secretary further disclosed that the Association would not join the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to mark the 2022 May Day but will mark the day independently across all sixteen (16) regions of the country.

“CLOGSAG regrets that due to the recent unfortunate developments on the Labour front, we are unable to collaborate with the Trade Union Congress (Ghana) in the celebration of this year’s May Day”, he explained.