- CLOGSAG leaders refused to attend the NLC’s mediation hearing on March 12, 2026.
- The union claims the NLC is biased after declaring their planned strike illegal.
- The dispute centers on the implementation of a specific salary structure for civil servants.
The leadership of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG) has officially boycotted a scheduled mediation meeting with the National Labour Commission (NLC). The meeting, which was set for Thursday, March 12, 2026, was intended to resolve the deadlock between the association and the government regarding the implementation of a new salary structure.
The decision to boycott follows the NLC’s recent declaration of CLOGSAG’s proposed industrial action as illegal. Representatives of the association argued that the Commission’s recent directives have been “prejudicial” and do not reflect an impartial mediation process. According to CLOGSAG, attending the hearing would be “counter-productive” as long as the Commission continues to use legal threats to suppress the grievances of civil servants.
At the heart of the dispute is the non-implementation of a unique salary structure and improved conditions of service that CLOGSAG claims were agreed upon in 2024. The association maintains that its members have exhibited significant patience, but the government’s failure to capture the new rates in the 2026 budget has left them with no choice but to push for industrial action.
The NLC has expressed disappointment over the boycott, noting that the absence of the union leadership hinders the resolution of a matter that affects the stability of the public sector. The Commission reiterated that under the Labour Act, all parties are required to participate in good faith during a summoned hearing. The NLC has hinted that it may seek a court order to compel the leadership to appear if the stalemate persists.
As of Thursday morning, government offices across several regions reported a “wait-and-see” atmosphere among staff. While a full-scale strike has been stayed by the NLC’s earlier ruling, the refusal of leadership to engage in talks suggests that the threat of a complete shutdown of government administrative services remains high.
