Veterinary Para Professionals to strike over Interim Market Premium

The Ghana Veterinary Medical Technicians Association has declared what it calls ‘a red protest’ from next Monday to press home demands for payment of interim market premium.

All Veterinary Para Professionals at the ports, abattoirs and veterinary posts across the country are to hoist red flags, wear red arm bands and head gear to work to signal their readiness to strike.
The Association at an emergency council meeting in Kumasi noted members will initiate a ‘work to rule’ posture after a week if they do not get any response from government.

President of the Association, Emmanuel Eshun, explains during this period meat inspection at the ports, supervision of animal slaughtering, animal vaccination and preparation of vaccines will be halted.
“Why should you give all health workers interim market premium because they do additional work and you leave out Veterinary Para Professionals and you tell them to wait for a report that will give actual premium, when others have enjoyed,” he told Luv News.

“You realize a lot of our public health and regulatory activities are done in the night and early hours of the day. It means all the meat that will come out of the slaughter houses will not be inspected. We are sorry public but its means we cannot ensure the safety of meat that will come out of the slaughter houses,” Mr. Eshun added.

The Association has called on President Mahama to intervene.

Documents available to Luv News show series of communication to the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the Labour Commission on the issue.

An FWSC letter dated October 8th 2015 communicated government’s decision to discontinue the market premium arrangement.

The Veterinary Para Professionals feel unfairly treated, hence the decision to protest.