Scores of patients have been left stranded in various government health facilities in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region as the nationwide strike by the Health Services Workers’ Union takes effect.
A visit to some facilities in the metropolis by Asaase News’s Jonathan Ofori saw some of the facility being left abandoned by the health workers.
The development is having a huge toll on the few private health facilities operating in the regional capital.
The situation is not different from the Bono Region Hospital, which has seen the facility abandoned by the health workers, according to correspondent Daniel Donkor.
The National Labour Commission (NLC ) on Monday described the action of the health workers as unlawful, insisting they have failed to use all the available channels in getting their grievances addressed.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Employment is expected to meet the leadership of the Health Services Workers’ Union to get them to rescind their decision.
Background
The Health Services Workers’ Union on Monday declared a nationwide strike starting Tuesday (26 October 2021), because of what it describes as delayed negotiations for better conditions of service for union members.
The union says the many attempts to get the government to address its grievances have proven futile, resulting in the members’ decision to abandon post.
Downing tools
Addressing a news conference in Cape Coast on Monday (25 October), the regional industrial relations officer of the union, John Paateri Konibe, declared: “The Health Services Workers’ Union of the Central Region is serving the government notice that … from tomorrow, 26 October 2021, all HSW union members will lay down their tools.
“… As part of this, the union wishes to state that it is not our wish to cause industrial disharmony and disrupt smooth delivery of health service, but the continuous disregard by the government team to heed to our simple request has pushed us to the wall.”
He added: “We entreat members to stay resolute, fearless, focused and united until the union’s demands are met.”
The workers said the decision to embark on a strike springs from the failure on the part of the government and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to improve their working conditions.
Fred Dzakpata
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