-As Notorious Article 71 Office holders Feast Fat
Aggrieved public sector workers took to the streets of Accra on Wednesday to demonstrate over what they describe as poor conditions of service.
They are unhappy about the 4% and 7% increase in base pay proposed by the government for public sector workers for 2021 and 2022 respectively demanding that public sector salaries rather be increased by 25%.
The angry workers point out how the Jubilee House had commissioned an emolument committee to astronomically increasing the salaries and allowances of the President, his Vice and their wives as well as those of ministers, parliamentarians those captured in the constitution as the so-called Article 71 Officeholders.
Bearing placards, the red-clad workers chanted war songs through the major streets of Accra on Wednesday morning.
The march began from the Nkrumah Circle taxi rank, formerly known as Obra Spot and ended at the Black Star Square.
Norbert Gborgbortsi, leader of the group explained the aggrieved workers were not being instigated to demonstrate by anybody.
“no one was sponsored to be here. We all came here because we are aggrieved. This is just to show the government that we have the numbers. This is just the beginning. If the government does not respond to our petition earlier presented with the week, they will hear more of us.”
Meanwhile, the Trades Union Congress has urged unions upset with the base pay increments for public sector workers for 2021 and 2022 to exerciser restraint.
At a press conference by Organised Labour on July 26, 2021, Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress, Dr. Yaw Baah, said the base pay increase of 4 per cent for 2021 and 7 per cent for 2022 could have been worse.