National Labour Commission directs JUSAG to abort intended strike

The National Labour Commission (NLC) has directed the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) to abort its plans to strike.

The Commission also requested the Minister for Jobs, Labour and Employment Relations to lead negotiations.

In a letter dated October 26, 2026, with reference number NLC/C-423/2026/35F, and signed by its Executive Secretary, Dr. Bernice A. Welbeck, the NLC acknowledged receipt of JUSAG's "Notification of Industrial Action" dated 23rd October, 2026.

According to the Commission, JUSAG in the notice alleges that government has "failed and/or refused to address their concerns regarding the review of salaries and related allowances for staff of the Association."

Consequently, JUSAG threatened to embark on a strike effective 2nd November, 2026 if the issues are not fully resolved.

The NLC letter, copied to the Office of the President, the Judicial Secretary, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, the Minister of Finance, and the leadership of JUSAG, asked the Labour Minister to take charge of discussions.

"The National Labour Commission hereby requests the Hon. Minister of Jobs, Labour and Employment Relations to lead discussions with those attentioned in the Notice as in paragraph 'one' above and to engage the Association representing the workers to discuss the issues in contention," the letter stated.

The Commission has given a deadline of Friday, 6th November, 2026, for a report on the engagement to be submitted to it.

"Meanwhile with this intervention, the Association is advised to stay the intended action in pursuance of Section 161 of the Labour Act, 2003, Act 651," the Commission added.

Section 161 of the Labour Act prohibits a party to a labour dispute from embarking on industrial action while the dispute is before the Commission, unless the Commission fails to resolve it within a stipulated period.

Background

JUSAG represents non-judicial staff of the Judicial Service, including registrars, interpreters, clerks, bailiffs, and administrative staff. They are regarded as the backbone of the court system and are responsible for keeping court records, managing dockets, executing judgments, and serving as the first point of contact for litigants.

The Association has a long history of industrial action over conditions of service. Under Article 149 and 158(2) of the 1992 Constitution, salaries and allowances of Judicial Service staff are to be reviewed biennially upon advice by the Judicial Council to the President.

In recent years, JUSAG has embarked on strikes in 2015, 2016, 2019, and in May 2023 over unpaid allowances, delays in implementing consolidated salaries, and the failure to implement the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA).

The 2015 and 2016 strikes crippled court activities nationwide, while the May 2023 indefinite strike led to the closure of courts across the country before it was conditionally suspended after an MoU with government represented by the Office of the President, the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission.

If the current threat is carried out, court operations nationwide could again be brought to a halt, delaying justice delivery for litigants.

The intervention by the NLC is now expected to avert a shutdown of the judiciary, pending the outcome of negotiations led by the Labour Minister.