A Ghanaian professional teacher is asking holders of Article 71 positions if they are carrying Ghana on their backs to increase their salaries by 79%.
Norbert Gborgbortsi, who has been quizzing the rationale for the 4% increment in salary for workers in the public sector, whilst Article 71 holders have given themselves 79% pay rise says the decision is abnormal.
“You are saying things are not going on well for the country so you can’t give us the 25% we requested. Meanwhile, you have raised yours by 79%”
“If you can’t pay 25%, how are you able to pay 79% to Article 71 officers? Are those of you increasing your salaries by 79% carrying the country at your back,” he asked as Ghanasonline.com monitored a conversation he had with Captain Smart.
After the Professor Ntiamoah Baidu emoluments committee proposed a 79% salary increment for the topmost public officers in the country, representatives from the Organised Labour –which comprises members from all the labour unions –were tasked to negotiate a 25% salary appreciation for their workers, but ended up with just 4%.
Mr. Gborgbortsi, speaking on Smart TV’s YouTube live-streamed Smart Show Monday, August 2, 2021 revealed the reason their representatives gave for accepting the 4% addition instead of the 25% cannot fit the reasonableness of even a primary school pupil.
He noted rather than championing the course of the people that sent them, they went to seek the welfare of the “Unemployed Graduates Association.”
The teacher additionally intimated their leaders also considered the Covid-19 pandemic which government needs to take care of, aside saying the nation’s coffers is in shambles.
“Captain, when they went, they said government need to get the Covid-19 vaccine to inject people. Also, they said government need to employ a lot of our colleagues who are unemployed so we should take the 4% so that they can save some money to do that”
“If this is the reason you’re giving, then come and tell us you’re also forfeiting your salaries so that we accept the 4% but you can’t take 79% and give us this story,” he stated.
He also revealed that “some public sector workers take home pay is just GHc 400.00. Majority of us take less than GHc2,000.00 so if you say majority of your expenses go into salary, which people take it?”
With the #FixTheCountry protest kicking off Wednesday, August 4, 2021, members of the Organised Labour are poised to join the train, aside plans to demonstrate against leadership by close of the month.
Currently, Norbert indicated, that, they’re gathering their members on social media –telegram –with almost 18,000 members on two different platforms, aiming to amass over 50,000 people to kickstart their agenda.
He hinted of closing down many Labour Union offices which has already commenced.
“We are going to close down all the Union offices in the country. In one group we have 13,912, and over 4,000 in another. We are targeting 50,000 members and after the demonstration, the strike will begin,” the teacher disclosed.