Opinion / Columnist
Government, civil servants should dialogue
12 Jan 2015 at 10:11hrs | Views
A strike can be defined as any action by two or more workers acting in concert to restrict in any way the service they normally provide to the employer or diminish the output of such service with a view to applying coercive pressure upon the employer.
Last year doctors went on strike for a period of two weeks demanding a pay rise from their employer, the government. Recently, nurses were threatening to down tools again complaining that government had abandoned them on the issue of payment of bonuses.
I feel the government should fast engage in dialogues with all government departments, especially crucial ones such as health and education sector. Communication is necessary in the day to day running of organisations, whether it is private or public business. Just like any other organization, government should ensure that whenever there are misunderstandings between the employer and employees communication is the best answer. Indeed, lack of communication may trigger small things to develop into a big crisis.
On the other hand, civil servants are government employees who must be dedicated to their work first and consider their rewards later because they serve the interest of the public. It is government workers who appreciate most how the nation is currently financial constrained; hence they should bear with it. It is well known that government honours its promises despite the prevailing harsh economic conditions. The education sector, recently received its bonuses as they were promised by the government.
According to the Patriotic Act of the United States of America, government employees are not supposed to go on strike, but must endure as their grievances will be looked at. Civil servants should be encouraged to be patient with their employer whenever situations like that ensue. As previously mentioned, government is currently going under a challenge of liquidity crunch, but at the same time trying its level best to stick to its public mandate. That alone compels us to commend the government.
It is the role of civil servants to work and change the nation. Industrial strikes will not resolve anything positive; instead, they paint a bad picture on the nation's reputation locally and internationally. Also, strikes discourage development of a nation and scare away foreign investment. The pinch of the aftermath of these strikes is felt by the ordinary person.
In Ghana, there have an Act called "The Industrial Relations Act 2003 Act 651". In this Act, essential services including persons working in an area where an action can lead to particular or total loss of life or pose a danger to public health safety. Under its section 163, such workers are prohibited from going on strike.
It is however worrisome that, while government is trying to make ends meet, Apex Council through its team leader Richard Gundane are planning to convince all civil servants to engage in a national strike which they are saying they want to force government to address a raft of grievances to do with their working conditions.
Though industrial strikes are legal, civil servants should resist from such actions and try to channel their grievances through dialogue.
Last year doctors went on strike for a period of two weeks demanding a pay rise from their employer, the government. Recently, nurses were threatening to down tools again complaining that government had abandoned them on the issue of payment of bonuses.
I feel the government should fast engage in dialogues with all government departments, especially crucial ones such as health and education sector. Communication is necessary in the day to day running of organisations, whether it is private or public business. Just like any other organization, government should ensure that whenever there are misunderstandings between the employer and employees communication is the best answer. Indeed, lack of communication may trigger small things to develop into a big crisis.
On the other hand, civil servants are government employees who must be dedicated to their work first and consider their rewards later because they serve the interest of the public. It is government workers who appreciate most how the nation is currently financial constrained; hence they should bear with it. It is well known that government honours its promises despite the prevailing harsh economic conditions. The education sector, recently received its bonuses as they were promised by the government.
It is the role of civil servants to work and change the nation. Industrial strikes will not resolve anything positive; instead, they paint a bad picture on the nation's reputation locally and internationally. Also, strikes discourage development of a nation and scare away foreign investment. The pinch of the aftermath of these strikes is felt by the ordinary person.
In Ghana, there have an Act called "The Industrial Relations Act 2003 Act 651". In this Act, essential services including persons working in an area where an action can lead to particular or total loss of life or pose a danger to public health safety. Under its section 163, such workers are prohibited from going on strike.
It is however worrisome that, while government is trying to make ends meet, Apex Council through its team leader Richard Gundane are planning to convince all civil servants to engage in a national strike which they are saying they want to force government to address a raft of grievances to do with their working conditions.
Though industrial strikes are legal, civil servants should resist from such actions and try to channel their grievances through dialogue.
Source - Peacemaker Zano
All articles and letters published on Bulawayo24 have been independently written by members of Bulawayo24's community. The views of users published on Bulawayo24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Bulawayo24. Bulawayo24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
