CLOGSAG DISSOCIATES ITSELF FROM MOU (PAGE 46, MARCH 1, 2010)

THE National Executive Council of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG) has dissociated itself from the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and organised labour.
The association stated that although the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission had acknowledged the teething problems related to the grading of its members, those concerns were not addressed as directed by the government’s White Paper, before the MoU was signed.
In a communiqué issued by the National Executive Council of the CLOGSAG after a three-day working session at the Busua Beach Resort in the Western Region, the association said the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission was also silent on the standardisation of category two and three allowances, which were to be negotiated as directed by the White Paper.
The communiqué signed by the Vice-President of the association, Mr Tennyson Foli, stated, “The association has noted with dismay that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and the Ministry of Employment and Social were not party to the memorandum of understanding signed between the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and organised labour/associations as directed by the white paper”.
“In view of the above concerns, the actions of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission are contrary to the directives of the White Paper, and therefore, the memorandum of understanding so signed is not binding on CLOGSAG,” the communiqué stated.
“Therefore, CLOGSAG wishes to dissociate itself from the memorandum of understanding,” it added.
According to the communiqué, the association would not participate in any one roundtable negotiation if the principles of equity and fairness, the core principles for the new pay policy, had not been achieved as directed by the White Paper.
“CLOGSAG notes with displeasure the actions and inactions of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, which it considers detrimental to the interest and aspirations of its members and wishes to advise that the commission puts its house in order and go by the directives contained in the government’s White Paper. Anything short of this can lead to a major industrial unrest or upheaval in the country,” it warned.
The council has, therefore, directed its national secretariat to immediately open negotiations with the government for the 2010 salary adjustment for members of the association based on the Ghana Universal Salary Structure (GUSS).
The communiqué enjoined the entire membership of the association to remain resolute and steadfast, as the council went through the journey of equity and fairness and to have faith in its leadership, since the leadership would not endorse or accept any policy that would be to the disadvantage its members.