The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) says he is ready to address the concerns of striking nurses and midwives within three days if they agree to return to the negotiation table.
Speaking exclusively to 3news, the Commission’s Chief Executive, Dr. George Smith-Graham, appealed to the health workers to call off their strike and engage in dialogue.
The ongoing strike by over 128,000 nurses and midwives across the country has taken a devastating toll on healthcare delivery.
Several patients have reportedly lost their lives, while many others are struggling to access critical care in the absence of frontline health workers.
Despite multiple rounds of negotiations between the government and the leadership of the striking health professionals, no agreement has been reached so far.
In a desperate bid to contain the crisis, the government has appealed to retired nurses and midwives to volunteer their services.
However, this move has sparked discontent and frustration among some retirees, who feel sidelined and disrespected.
Dr. Smith-Graham, has expressed concern over the ongoing industrial action.
“We have assured them that if they write to us that they would want to meet, as early as tomorrow the meeting will take place and if the meeting takes place by the close of this week the issue would have been resolved. They should come for us to talk,” he urged.
Dr. Smith-Graham further indicated that full implementation of their conditions of service by 2026 could significantly improve their welfare.
“If we they had implemented it earlier they would have lost the 54 percent inflation and high depreciation of the cedi would have taken over all their benefits but now if we implement it, they are now going to see the gains they negotiated for.”
“I have told them that whatever they have they should come to us on the table, we don’t believe in this informal discussion, radio information, we went to them formally with a proposal. If they have any other counter proposal they should come to us, so far on the table we have nothing from the registered nurses and midwives’ group” he explained.
Meanwhile, as government efforts to end the strike intensify, CLOGSAG has publicly declared its support for the striking nurses and midwives.
