PSWU Ghana: Demands Single Spine Policy Scrapping Over Inequities

• The Public Services Workers’ Union (PSWU) has renewed its call to scrap Ghana's Single Spine Pay Policy.
• The union argues that inconsistent administration of the policy has created deep salary inequalities in the public sector over the past eight to nine years.
• PSWU General Secretary Bernard Adjei stated that persistent disparities, especially at lower levels, cannot be resolved by annual salary increases.
• The union has consistently advocated for the policy's abolition for the past three to four years.
• PSWU welcomed the government's accepted initiative for an Independent Public Emoluments Commission (IPEC) to address structural issues but expressed concern over the delay in its full implementation and operationalization, with a bill expected to be laid before parliament in November 2026.

The Public Services Workers’ Union (PSWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has reiterated its demand for the complete abolition of Ghana's Single Spine Pay Policy.

The Public Services Workers’ Union (PSWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has reiterated its demand for the complete abolition of Ghana's Single Spine Pay Policy. This renewed call stems from the union's assertion that the policy, despite its initial aim to foster fairness and consistency in public sector remuneration, has been marred by inconsistent administration over several years, leading to significant inequalities and unfairness in salaries. The PSWU contends that these deep-seated disparities, particularly affecting lower-level public service employees, cannot be adequately addressed through mere annual salary adjustments.

Bernard Adjei, the General Secretary of the PSWU, articulated this position during a discussion on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, November 2. His remarks were made in the context of an agreed eight percent base pay increase for public sector workers for the year 2027. Adjei highlighted that the union has consistently advocated for the dismantling of the Single Spine Pay Policy for the past three to four years, arguing that the fundamental issues of low salaries within their sector are beyond the scope of simple percentage increments.

When the Single Spine structure was first implemented, it was envisioned as a mechanism to establish a coherent and equitable framework for determining public sector salaries across Ghana. However, the PSWU argues that the policy's administration by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission has, over the past eight to nine years, inadvertently generated the very inequities, unfairness, and inconsistencies it was designed to prevent. This has resulted in a system where salary disparities persist, contrary to the policy's foundational principles.

The union's critique extends beyond the mere existence of pay gaps, emphasizing that the structural integrity of the policy has been compromised. The persistent issues, particularly at the entry and lower echelons of the public service, underscore a systemic problem that, in the PSWU's view, cannot be rectified through the standard practice of annual salary increases alone. This perspective frames the current situation as a failure of the policy's implementation rather than a minor administrative oversight.

In response to these persistent challenges, the PSWU has expressed support for the government's accepted initiative to establish an Independent Public Emoluments Commission (IPEC). The primary objective of this commission would be to thoroughly investigate the underlying problems within public sector salary administration and to propose concrete measures for their resolution. This initiative is seen by the union as a crucial step towards addressing the structural weaknesses that plague the current remuneration system.

However, a significant concern for the PSWU, as voiced by General Secretary Bernard Adjei, is the delay in the full implementation and operationalization of this accepted commission, with a bill expected to be laid before parliament in November 2026. This delay means that public sector workers continue to grapple with the long-standing salary disparities. Adjei noted that while discussions for the 2027 base pay agreement did take into account the necessity of preventing further exacerbation of existing inequalities, the broader, more fundamental issues require the dedicated attention of such a commission to achieve lasting solutions.

The recent agreement for an eight percent increase in base pay for 2027, reached between organized labour and the government, serves as a temporary measure within a larger, more complex debate. The Public Services Workers’ Union's stance underscores a critical shift in focus: from routine annual percentage adjustments to a comprehensive re-evaluation of the structural integrity of Ghana's public sector remuneration system. The union believes that merely adjusting figures annually fails to address the root causes of unfairness and inconsistency embedded within the Single Spine Pay Policy.

This ongoing advocacy highlights the imperative for a more holistic approach to public sector salaries. The PSWU's consistent demand for the policy's scrapping, maintained over several years, signals a deep-seated dissatisfaction with its current operation and a strong desire for fundamental reform. The union's position suggests that future discussions on public sector pay must prioritize structural over incremental changes to genuinely achieve the fairness and consistency originally intended by the Single Spine Pay Policy.

Lawyers advising public sector employers, unions, or employees in Ghana should monitor developments regarding the Single Spine Pay Policy, as its potential scrapping or significant reform could lead to new collective bargaining agreements, employment contract renegotiations, or litigation concerning pay disparities. The proposed Emoluments Committee also signals a potential shift in how public sector salaries are determined, requiring legal professionals to understand new frameworks.

Source: Original reporting via Myjoyonline.com