The Executive Secretary of the National Labour Commission (NLC), Ofosu Asamoah has described strikes as a very important tool for pressing home demands.

According to him, although “strikes work”, workers must be cautioned against abusing it.

The NLC has attempted in the last three weeks to stop a number of labor unions from going on strike.

They were forced to get a court order to stop striking Laboratory Scientists from continuing the exercise that left health care delivery across the country severely affected.

The Commission was again forced to intervene in the strike called by Senior Staff of Universities across the country over poor working conditions.

On Monday, the Commission had once again directed striking Teachers of Technical Universities across the country to also call off their strike and return to the negotiating table over working conditions.

Speaking on JoyNews' PM Express Monday, the NLC’s Executive Secretary admitted that strikes are an effective tool.

He said as a public sector worker, he acknowledges the importance of strikes.

President of the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG), Dr. Michael Brigandi, and his counterpart from the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists, Dr. Abu Abudu Rahmani who were both on Pm Express agreed that the only language government, who happens to be their employer understands is strike.

They disclosed that they have seen evidence of interest in addressing their concerns since they called the strike, something they never saw after several years of mere complaints.

The NLC boss agreed but warned against abuse of strikes.

Mr. Asamoah admitted that the NLC is facing a challenge with government failing to implement many of its rulings meant to prevent strikes. “I will not say incapacitated but it is definitely frustrating when the employer fails to implement our rulings,” he said.

Already, the NLC is bracing itself for two additional strikes in the next week. The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association has called a strike for June 16^th 2021 over encroachment on Pantang Psychiatric Hospital lands.

The Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) has also given government a June 18^th 2021 deadline to address their concerns over Tier two Pensions contributions or they will also embark on a strike action.