GhATSEA Serves Strike Notice, Accuses GCAA Management of Bad Faith and Double Standards
By: Justice Togbor
The Ghana Air Traffic Safety Electronics Association (GhATSEA) has issued a formal notice of its intention to embark on a strike action, citing unresolved welfare concerns, alleged bad faith negotiations, and long-standing human resource and salary inequities within the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
In a statement issued in line with Sections 159 and 160 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), the Association said the notice satisfies the statutory requirement of giving not less than seven days’ prior notice before the commencement of any lawful strike. GhATSEA warned that if all outstanding issues are not fully resolved by January 15, 2026, its members will lay down their tools.
According to the Association, the decision follows years of unsuccessful engagements with management, despite repeated attempts at dialogue, mediation, and arbitration. GhATSEA argues that these processes have failed to yield any meaningful outcomes.
A key concern raised by the Association is what it describes as contradictory positions taken by GCAA management regarding the status of its members. GhATSEA recalled that in 2016, during a dispute referred to the National Labour Commission (NLC) by its lawyer, Samson Lardy Anyenini, GCAA management—then represented by the Director of Human Resources, Mr. Ebenezer Sagoe—classified its members as non-essential workers. However, management is now reportedly arguing before the NLC that the same workers are essential in the current dispute.
“This raises a fundamental question: when did we suddenly become essential workers?” the Association questioned, describing the shift as a double standard driven by convenience rather than principle or law.
GhATSEA further recounted that following an explicit directive from the GCAA Board on October 29, 2025, it suspended an intended industrial action scheduled for October 30, after receiving assurances that management would engage in good faith and that any agreements reached would receive full Board approval. However, the Association said subsequent meetings with management ended without any proposals, commitments, or agreements, contrary to the Board’s instructions.
The Association noted that a similar pattern occurred in September 2025, when management intervened to stop a planned strike, only to abandon commitments after the action was suspended. GhATSEA said this recurring conduct has eroded trust and fueled frustration among its members.
Central to the dispute are allegations of inequitable job placement and unfair salary administration, which the Association attributes to the tenure of the current Director of Human Resources. GhATSEA detailed multiple instances between 2012 and 2022 where staff with HND and BSc qualifications were allegedly placed on inappropriate staff grades or salary levels, requiring repeated interventions by successive Director-Generals to correct the anomalies.
The Association also highlighted salary distortions, including minimal gaps between some salary levels, disproportionately wide gaps between others, and cases where later recruits allegedly earn more than earlier recruits at the same or higher levels.
Among its demands, GhATSEA is calling for the full implementation of the Dr. Imoro’s Report, the immediate implementation of a promotional needs petition submitted on July 16, 2025, and decisive action regarding the continued tenure of the current Director of Human Resources.
While reiterating its commitment to peaceful engagement, GhATSEA warned that unresolved technical and safety personnel issues could affect the integrity of Ghana’s airspace operations. The Association urged the GCAA Board to intervene decisively to ensure industrial harmony, national safety, and operational efficiency.