The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has pleaded with members of the Ghana Veterinary Medical Technicians’ Association to call off a strike that has persisted since January 26, 2016.

The TUC says the veterinary medical technicians play a key role in the country's health delivery system and hence must not remain on strike.

“Given the strategic role our brothers and sisters in the veterinary services play in the general health delivery and surveillance chain, not only for animals but especially animal to human diseases such as Ebola and the Avian Influenza (bird flu) and the risk associated with it, for themselves and the general public, we cannot afford to have them remain on strike,” a press statement signed by TUC General Secretary, Kofi Asamoah, said.

Members of the Veterinary Medical Technicians Association proceeded on the strike action due what they say is the failure of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to accord them their market premium since their migration to the Single Spine Salary Structure in 2011.

The full TUC statement is published below.

Trades Union Congress (Ghana)

Press Statement

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has keenly followed the concerns raised by the Ghana Veterinary Medical Technicians' Association (VEMTAG) regarding the failure of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to accord them their well-deserved market premium since their migration to the Single Spine Salary Structure in 2011.

Unfortunately, the seeming lack of regard and recognition for these concerns led to a strike action by the Association which has persisted since 26th January, 2016. Given the strategic role our brothers and sisters in the veterinary services play in the general health delivery and surveillance chain, not only for animals but especially animal to human diseases such as Ebola and the Avian Influenza (bird flu) and the risk associated with it, for themselves and the general public, we cannot afford to have them remain on strike.

The TUC has therefore intervened and pleaded with our Brothers and Sisters to resume work while we work with others within the Public Services Joint Standing Negotiating Committee to engage the appropriate State Institutions to bring this matter to a close.

Meanwhile, we urge the Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture responsible for Veterinary Services to be circumspect and not to take any steps that would further disturb the attempts being made to settle these matters.

Thank you.