The Medical Laboratory Professional Workers’ Union (MELPWU) has declared a countrywide strike, set to begin on June 17, 2024. The union’s decision comes after nearly two years of unsuccessful negotiations with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) regarding the Conditions of Service for its members.
MELPWU deemed the outcome of the latest negotiation meeting on May 31, 2024, as “disappointing,” prompting them to take this drastic action to pressure the government into concluding the negotiations.
The union believes that the FWSC and the Ministry of Finance have not shown good faith in the process, deliberately frustrating the efforts of a peaceful union seeking to maintain a healthy labor-management relationship.
The strike is expected to have a significant impact on healthcare delivery across the country, as laboratory services in public hospitals will be unavailable from June 17 onwards. MELPWU has already served a strike notice to the National Labour Commission (NLC), FWSC, Ministries of Employment & Labour Relations, Health, and Finance, as well as all relevant agencies.
Dr. Cephas Kofi Akortor, the General Secretary of MELPWU, signed the notice, which was issued under Section 159 of the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651). The notice cited the “undue delay in concluding negotiations with the union” and the “lack of financial clearance for non-mechanised members” as the primary reasons for the strike.
The union’s membership encompasses a wide range of professionals, including Medical Laboratory Scientists, Medical Laboratory Technicians, and Medical Laboratory Assistants.
These members provide essential diagnostic services in clinical laboratories and blood banks under the Ministry of Health and allied agencies, such as the Ghana Health Service, National Blood Service, Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), Teaching Hospitals, Health Training Institutions, Ahmadiyya Health Services Ghana, and the University of Ghana Medical Centre.
In an effort to prevent an explosive situation that could be difficult to manage, the National Executive Council of MELPWU held an emergency meeting and approved the demands of its members to proceed with a full-blown industrial strike action. The strike aims to draw the necessary attention and importance to the concerns of the union and its members.
The impending strike is set to affect services provided by MELPWU members in all medical laboratories, blood banks, pathology laboratories, and selected mortuary facilities across the country.
As the strike date approaches, the government and relevant stakeholders are urged to take swift action to address the union’s concerns and resolve the long-standing issue of Conditions of Service for medical laboratory professionals.
