Courtrooms across the country remain closed as an indefinite strike action by the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) enters its second day.
As a result of the strike, scheduled court hearings are not taking place, creating uncertainty among litigants and lawyers.
JUSAG says the indefinite nationwide strike is a result of what it describes as the government’s failure to review the salaries of its members.
In addition, the Association is demanding the release of a report on their negotiations by the Judicial Council for onward submission and approval by the President.
According to Chairman of JUSAG, Mr Alex Nartey, the association had no choice than to embark on the industrial action, saying that the government had failed to adhere to existing salary review protocols and outcome of recent negotiations.
But the National Labour Commission has described the strike as illegal, and threatened to institute legal action against the association.
Executive-Secretary of the NLC, Samuel Ofosu Asamoah, indicates that the Commission is resorting to the court because JUSAG has breached sections of the Labour Act.
“The action by JUSAG is illegal. By the labour laws, when an action is pending before the Commission or even when parties are in negotiations, wearing of armbands is not allowed, not alone strike. So the strike is not only illegal, but they are in contempt of the Commission,” he stated.
Reacting to the stance of the Labour Commission, Mr Nartey said the Commission does not have the mandate to determine the illegality or otherwise of a strike action.
According to him, by law, the only body that can determine whether their action is illegal or otherwise, is a court of competent jurisdiction and until such court declares so, they would remain on strike to demand their reliefs.
By ADR Daily Newsdesk
