Yet Another Season of Strikes

 

Advocates of the lame defence that the only language governments of Ghana understand is strike miss the reality that a strike could also represent workers’ simplistic way of securing a financial objective. There is some validity in the argument that Ghanaian politicians receive extremely high salaries, whilst the ordinary worker shouldering the economy is tossed a meagre salary, hence, what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Indeed, one cannot defend the reality that an economy that struggles constantly also supports some exorbitant wages. Non-politicians also enjoy mind-blowing salaries. Sadly, some public organizations, struggling to fulfil their core mandate, would defend high salaries, even fulfil extravagant service conditions, diverting limited funds from where it belongs, then compromise and/or neglect primary service.

Paying taxes is a civic responsibility, but since we are in the strike season, perhaps those of us in the small bracket of the country’s taxpayers should also embark on a strike to protest the unfairness of shouldering more than our fair share of Ghana’s financial burden for many a cheat who earn and pocket entire income for extravagance. Ironically, the penultimate group understands that governance is hinged on taxation. Without ordinary people’s taxes, governments will not be able to provide services, so we earn and pay our taxes – low or high.  

I have scanty knowledge about determining wages and salaries, but my gumption tells me that certain perilous jobs attract higher remuneration – not that any amount can compensate loss of life. Some services are lifesaving so performers must be motivated to prioritize public life, not short-change society. Organizations consider current living conditions and remunerate commensurately. Some jobs come with multifarious roles, so duties and associated stress guide remuneration. The fact remains that every line of service contributes to the overall development of a nation. To wit, determining wages/salaries is a painful, complex antagonistic task; little wonder that there is constant dissent. It is humanly impossible to satisfy all employees at all times, strength of economy notwithstanding.

Workers’ strike has become a channel, sometimes, utilized by Unions in Ghana to circumvent constructive dialogue and realistic negotiations, effectively clouding current reality. It is increasingly a weapon for legitimizing the appalling spirit of entitlement rising among contemporary Ghanaians. The spate of strikes is alarming because service provision does not improve with wage/salary augmentation. Service continues to slip. All sectors are lamenting the high cost of living and increased taxes, but equal attention is not given to low productivity.

That strikes/protests have become an escape route for some rhetoricians might be deduced from some protests staged to counter initiatives with potential for strengthening the autonomy. Sometimes, the counter advocacy makes one shudder for the future leadership such represents. Subjectivity effectively stamps out the environment for critical analysis of wage/salary negotiations, the most frightening being the silence on long-term implications.

The entire world is besieged by overwhelming challenges, some camouflaging cataclysmic shrouds: Climate Change threatens existence, COVID-19 pandemic keeps nations on tenterhooks, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine has deepened global troubled waters. Such occur amidst rising unemployment, porous skills of graduates, deepening poverty, food security threats and alarming crime rate in Ghana, to mention these.

Yet, one hears about increase in wages/salaries only, in a country which paid public sector workers full salary during COVID-19 lockdown. The stock-cushion for increment without the commensurate productivity is rapidly eroding due to exponential population growth, rising illiteracy rate, porous skills which culminate in low, and/or cheap productivity, which thus compromise industry’s global competitiveness. For how long can a frail economy support such liabilities? But many Ghanaians will sing, pray, play the blame game and go on strike, rather than critically analyse actions and consequences.

It is time Unions targeted high productivity for fair, sustainable wage/salary increases. Demand technological hands-on training to strengthen industry. Compel systems to utilize digitization to sprint education and industry to 21^st Century production capacity. Urge workers to utilize resources effectively. Condemn Ghanaian dependency mentality. Implore workers to embrace genuine knowledge and skill acquisition, diligence, and professionalism for dignity. Prompt workers to eschew mediocrity, strive for excellence. In short, Unions must negotiate holistically!