THE desire of the government and other employers to introduce a policy intervention that guarantees equal work for equal pay for working people has not been easy.
Not too long ago, the government commissioned a study into the pay structure of public sector workers that led to the introduction of the Ghana Universal Salary Structure (GUSS). This intervention by the government, although well-intended, did not meet the expectations of all public sector workers.
Furthermore, the then Ministry of Public Sector Reforms played a leading role in getting organised labour and employers to put together a pay structure that takes into account the skills and output of all positions in the public sector.
The essence of this policy initiative was the standardisation of salaries and allowance within jobs involving the same functions. However, the transition from the old pay structure to the Single Spine Pay Policy (SSPP) has not been smooth.
Indeed, the chequered transition is to be expected for a major policy intervention involving thousands of workers.
The apprehensions from some working groups have arisen as a result of a lack of understanding of the work being done by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC).
The Civil and Local Government Service Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSSAG) had opposed the unitary salary structure on the basis that its rights to negotiate separately with its employers as guaranteed by PNDC Law 309 and recognised by Section 178 (1) (2) of the Labour Act was not being recognised.
The DAILY GRAPHIC would have been pleasantly surprised if the unitary pay structure was implemented without challenges, but the arrangements put in place for peaceful industrial relations make room for resolving any labour dispute.
We think everybody should support the FWSC to ensure the success of the SSPP that seeks to instil equity, transparency and fairness in public sector pay administration.
The DAILY GRAPHIC acknowledges the sacrifices made by all the parties to the policy because the SSPP presented opportunities for better salary levels and productivity from all workers.
It is because of the painstaking work that has been done by the FWSC in collaboration with all stakeholders that we are appalled by the action taken by a section of prisons officers who demonstrated against what they described as "inadequate upward adjustment in their salaries" as a result of the implementation of the SSPP.
The prisons officers have a right to express themselves and their action last Wednesday was protected by freedom of expression. But prisons officers also know that as para-military officers working under established rules, they are not allowed to embark on a demonstration to back their demands for better conditions of service.
Absolute freedom is not guaranteed by the Constitution and that is why men and officers of the Ghana Prisons Service should have known that their action violated the constitutional provisions regulating the operations of the security agencies.
The best option available to the aggrieved prisons officers was to engage the FWSC in dialogue to iron out their differences instead of engaging in street protests that threatened the security of the state.
Their action was undesirable and as officers and men of a disciplined organisation, they should apologise to the nation for bringing the name of the service into disrepute.
The implementation of the SSPP is a process and not an event and for which reason all the parties should exercise utmost restraint in their agitation to be heard.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, calls on the FWSC to step up its dialogue with all stakeholders in order to achieve a better appreciation of the processes and the road map towards the successful implementation of the pay scheme.
Anything to the contrary must be rejected by all the parties in order to maintain a peaceful industrial atmosphere.
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