Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, president of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), claims that the demand for a 20% cost-of-living allowance (COLA) is reasonable given the challenging economic circumstances that employees face.
She pointed out that it would be unjust to expect that the labour force end its COLA protests only because those who hold Article 71 had seen their pay decrease by 30%.
"We don't think that cuts have any influence on their finances," she said, "and for that matter, we think what we're asking for is acceptable. Look, those who are covered by Article 71, as well as those who earn particular wages and other circumstances, are classified in a way that makes them more comfortable.
Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, president of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), claims that the demand for a 20% cost-of-living allowance (COLA) is reasonable given the challenging economic circumstances that employees face.
She pointed out that it would be unjust to expect that the labour force end its COLA protests only because those who hold Article 71 had seen their pay decrease by 30%.
"We don't think that cuts have any influence on their finances," she said, "and for that matter, we think what we're asking for is acceptable. Look, those who are covered by Article 71, as well as those who earn particular wages and other circumstances, are classified in a way that makes them more comfortable.
We believe that, given that we are in the middle of the year, the 7 percent we received is little when compared to the rate of inflation, she stated on JoyNews' Newsfile on Saturday.
Therefore, Madam Ofosu-Ampofo has urged the government to engage labour unions first in order to address their demands before additional unions go on a statewide strike.
"Therefore, we are merely urging the administration that it is crucial that we discuss when we are sitting down. We are pleased to report that a meeting was conducted yesterday; we were all there, we talked, and we established the guidelines for a meeting scheduled for next Tuesday to start talking about this COLA.
"Because the Ministers of Finance, Education, and Employment, as well as other government representatives like the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and others, made it clear to us that these issues regarding the cost-of-living allowance had been brought to the attention of His Excellency the President of the Republic. As a result, they pledged to take a close look at the problems and support us as workers.
We anticipate the meeting on Tuesday of next week and hope that the discussions will result in something beneficial, she added.