Joint health sector unions demand 20% COLA

Four health sector unions have collaborated to demand Cost Of Living Allowance (COLA) calculated as 20% of basic salary.

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Health Services Workers’ Union (HSWU) and Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) are constituent members of Organised Labour, made an official request to the government to demand what’s due them.

The Joint union also indicated that they are yet to receive a response from the government after making their request for the COLA.

The Teachers and Education Workers Union (TEWU), the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT) are all striking over the failure of the government to settle them their 20% of their Cost of Living Allowance (COLA).

Press Release:

13TH JULY, 2022

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Health Services Workers’ Union (HSWU) and Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) being constituent members of Organised Labour, made a request to the government for 20% Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) for our members in the light of the prevailing difficult economic situation in the country.

Unfortunately, like other members of Organized Labour, we are yet to receive a favourable response from the government.

We had hoped that the meeting convened by Government with Organized Labour on 12th July, 2022 would have resolved the issue but the meeting failed to achieve its objective.

We, therefore, serve notice to the government as an employer that if by 22nd July 2022 the negotiations on COLA is not completed, the aforementioned health sector unions will have no other choice than to embark on a series of actions as spelt out below which will in no doubt disturb the industrial harmony within the health sector:

25th to 27th July, 2022. Wearing of red arm/wrist bands in all health facilities.

28th to 31st July 2022- Withdrawal of Out-Patient Department (OPD) Services

1st August, 2022- Withdrawal of OPD and In-patient services

Long Live Health Sector Unions and Associations! Long Live Trade Union Solidarity!