Veterinarians strike

Veterinary paraprofessionals across the country have declared a nationwide strike over what they describe as unfair treatment meted out to them.

National President of the Association of Veterinary Professionals said all efforts to get the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to address issues regarding their market premium have not yielded any result.

Mr Emmanuel Eshun has, therefore, directed all members to comply with the directive and stay away from bird flu investigations, vaccine preparations, border controls, and meat inspections at the various centres across the country. The strike started on Wednesday 27 January, 2016.

“All workers under the health sector classification are given entry market premium except the veterinary paraprofessional. The irony is that the veterinary surgeon has been enjoying market premium excluding the veterinary paraprofessionals, who play complimentary roles to each other in the work and face the same risk, if not a higher risk, because the veterinary paraprofessional is the first point of contact in most disease outbreaks,” he explained.

The group embarked on a work-to-rule action in December 2015 after failed negotiations to agree on a favourable interim market premium with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC).

Mr Eshun also noted that they would not rescind the strike decision until government showed commitment to address their concerns.

Source: Ghana/ClassFMonline.com/91.3fm