The Health Services Workers’ Union (HSWU), made up of more than 40,000 members, has declared a full-blown strike effective tomorrow, Tuesday, 26 October 2021 over poor conditions of service.

The union is not happy about the delay in reviewing its conditions of service as agreed since 2016.

The group’s General Secretary, Mr Franklin Owusu Ansah, told journalists at a press conference on Monday, 25 October 2021 in Accra: “It is not the wish of the union to cause industrial disharmony and disrupt the smooth delivery of health services but the continuous disregard by the government to respond to our simple request has pushed us to the wall and this far”.

“Today, 25 October 2021, must be the last day our members must go to work.”

“From tomorrow, 26 October 2021, we ask you to please stay at home until you hear from your leaders”, he told the members of the union.

“Your resumption of duty will depend on the government and its negotiations to act in good faith.”

Mr Ansah added: “This unfair treatment meted to us must stop because our members are outraged and fed up”.

“The dragging of feet and the lackadaisical attitude with which the government handles the issue of health services workers union members cannot be tolerated any longer”.

“In the light of this, the union is telling the citizens of Ghana that it is unfortunate but please don’t fall sick or seek healthcare services at the private facilities.”

Like their colleagues in Accra, the members of the union in the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions have also declared a similar strike.

The Northern Regional arm of the union has, however, given officialdom a three-day ultimatum to deal with their concerns or they will advise themselves.