JUSAG threatens indefinite strike from November 2 over unpaid salary review

The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) has threatened an indefinite strike from Monday, November 2, 2026, if the government fails to approve its 2026 salary review and pay outstanding arrears. The association has given the government until Sunday, November 1, to meet its demands, warning that its members will withdraw their services until the issues are resolved.

In a notification letter dated October 23 and signed by its General Secretary, Abdulai Yakubu, JUSAG informed the National Labour Commission (NLC) of its intention to embark on the industrial action over delays in reviewing salaries and related allowances for Judicial Service staff. The association said the conditions of service of its members are governed by Article 149 of the 1992 Constitution and the Judicial Service (Terms and Conditions of Service) Regulations, 2025 (C.I. 141).

According to JUSAG, it requested a review of salaries for 2026 after the previous salary review expired in December 2025. The Judicial Council subsequently completed its work and submitted its recommendations to the President in accordance with Article 149 of the Constitution and Regulation 25 of C.I. 141. However, JUSAG said the approval process had stalled despite repeated appeals for action.

“Owing to the delay in concluding the process, JUSAG, by a letter dated 19th January 2026, wrote to the Judicial Council to expedite the process. However, little progress resulted,” the notification stated. The association said it again reminded management of the matter in a letter dated September 10, 2026. It also cited appeals made during the 2nd Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference in Tamale, the 45th Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG) Conference in Accra, and the Chief Justice’s Staff Durbar in Tamale.

JUSAG said the appeals had produced assurances but no concrete action towards approving the Judicial Council’s recommendations and paying the revised salaries. The association said the delay had heightened tensions and weakened staff morale, particularly because other public sector workers had received approval and payment of their revised 2026 salaries in January.

“We are now in the tenth month of the year, and our members are still waiting—patiently, but no longer quietly. This situation has heightened tension and dampened morale among staff of the Judicial Service,” the letter stated. JUSAG also expressed concern that negotiations by Organised Labour over the 2027 base pay were already underway while its members were still waiting for their revised 2026 salaries and allowances.

JUSAG’s National Executive Council has set out two conditions for calling off the planned industrial action. The association wants the government to: Approve the Judicial Council’s recommendations on the 2026 salary review by October 31, 2026. Pay the revised salaries in November, including arrears covering January to October 2026. The association said failure to meet the demands by November 1 would trigger an indefinite strike from the following day.

It added that the strike would remain in force until the demands were met. JUSAG said it had repeatedly urged its members to exercise restraint because of the potential consequences of industrial action for justice delivery and national security. The planned strike could disrupt the administrative and support services of the Judicial Service if the government and the association fail to reach an agreement before the deadline.

The notification letter was copied to the Office of the President, the Judicial Secretary, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister for Jobs, Labour and Employment Relations. STRIKE LETTERDownload