The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) has served a notice to commence indefinite strike action on November 13, 2019.

In a notice signed, the President of the Association, Alex Nartey said the Finance Ministry has failed to review the salaries of the staff this year in line with the biennial review of staff payment which the ministry is obligated to undertake.

“Our current salary was implemented in the year 2017 and is to be renewed biennially. The Association wrote for salary negotiations on April 26, this year and subsequently served a reminder on July 29,” the notice read.

He wrote, “It has, however, come to our attention that the Finance Ministry has rather slated 2020 for the salary review and for it to be implemented in 2021.”

“The Association vehemently disagrees with the position taken by the government,” it added.

JUSAG has embarked on or threatened industrial action on a number of occasions in the past.

Last July, the Association threatened to embark on strike action in reaction to the Service’s delay in promoting its members as stated in an assessment report.

In June 2018, JUSAG threatened that its members would go on strike if government failed to immediately address all outstanding issues pertaining to their conditions of service.

Also in May 2016, it declared an indefinite strike that crippled the courts, effectively bringing the justice delivery system to a halt.

Before then, in March 2016, it had declared a nationwide strike which was supposed to begin on April 1, 2016, but called it off after it received assurances from government that the process for consolidation of salaries and allowances for its members would start on Monday, April 4, 2016.

This followed what the Association said were delays in the implementation of the consolidated salaries and emoluments for its members.

During negotiations to find an amicable solution to the problem, the National Labour Commission (NLC) ordered JUSAC to direct its members to return to work as negotiations continued.

JUSAG called off the strike after two weeks following assurances that the issue would be resolved.

However, members of JUSAG later went on strike due to government’s failure to consolidate salaries and allowances of members as approved by the Judicial Council in 2012.

The notice was copied to the Chief Justice, the Finance Minister and the Employment Minister and Labour Relations.

As part of the intended industrial action, JUSAC has directed its members to hoist red flags and put on red armbands from Tuesday, November 5, 2019, until the day the strike will officially begin.

“We are using this opportunity, therefore, to call on the Judicial Council and government to immediately address our legitimate issues and concerns to avert the intended strike,” it stated.