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National Labour Commission orders emergency talks to avert JUSAG strike
•2 min read•3 sources
The National Labour Commission (NLC) has intervened to prevent a planned nationwide strike by the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG), which was scheduled to begin on November 2, 2026. The NLC has directed the Ministry of Jobs, Labour and Employment Relations to enter emergency negotiations with JUSAG leadership to resolve a dispute over salary reviews and unpaid arrears. The commission mandated that a progress report on these discussions be submitted by November 6, while formally urging the association to suspend its industrial action in accordance with legal provisions.
JUSAG’s decision to strike follows a year of delays regarding the implementation of a new salary structure reviewed by the Judicial Council. The association is demanding that the government formally approve these reviewed salaries by October 31 and ensure they are paid in November. Furthermore, the staff are seeking the settlement of arrears dating back to January 2026. Leadership within JUSAG expressed frustration that other public sector workers have already received their new salary scales, leaving judicial staff feeling neglected and demoralized.
The potential strike poses a severe threat to the administration of justice, with an estimated 4,000 court cases and 8,000 individuals affected daily. A shutdown of the courts would paralyze legal proceedings, impact commercial operations, and potentially compromise national security. While the NLC has proposed these emergency talks to avert a crisis, JUSAG maintains that the strike will only be called off if formal approval for the salary adjustments is granted by the end of the month.
