The New Dawn of Change – Med. Lab Professional Workers’ Union (MELPWU)

There is no doubt that existing together as people with common interests is beautiful. To others, it was never going to be a dream come true. It was going to remain as a mirage and never a reality. I know people who have bet even on their lives that, a Union for Medical Laboratory Professionals was never going to happen. Thank God such individuals are not GOD!

I woke up to the announcement and introduction of the registration of the Medical Laboratory Professional Workers’ Union by the Professional Body (GAMLS) on the 25th of September 2020 as shown in the figure below.

I bless God for witnessing the joy the announcement brought to the members in the practice of medical laboratory profession in Ghana. Many said the liberation has arrived.  It is not the truth to say that all these years we have been left as orphans in the labour front in Ghana. The Health Service Workers’ Union (HSWU) had the backs of Medical Laboratory Professionals but I am of the opinion that negotiating for many professional groupings within a limited time frame has always been our bane. Anyone who may think the announcement of the union for this unique group of medical laboratory professionals will not make a difference in our future negotiations for conditions of service may probably not know what he/she will be talking about. That group I have known does not easily give up and are resilient.

The Collective Bargaining Certificate

The Union is for members of GAMLS who are in public health practice. Unfortunately, it is not a package that covers those in private practice. but trust me that, negotiations by this union may end up trickling down when finally implemented. It has usually formed the basis for all negotiations in the labour front.

Having the majority of the professionals that the union represents automatically tells the employer to engage the union for the conditions of service for the union members. The bargaining certificate is always dependent on who has the majority of the workforce to afford them the capacity to talk on their behalf. For this reason, all those who desire to enjoy the good benefits the leadership of MELPWU has in store, need to immediately look for the membership form and apply to be part of the new dawn.

I am optimistic that having the opportunity to talk for ourselves at our agreed terms during negotiations will be beneficial. I believe in the strength in unity and I expected HSWU to have had the muscle to accommodate all health professionals but by precedence, I think it is worth it for MELPWU to have emerged.

I encourage all to come on board to see the good ahead of us. I am sure it will never be the same. MELPWU ENROLMENT FORM