There are very strong indications that the Mahama administration has jumped into a state of total panic over the threat by organised labour to call a nation-wide strike on Monday, November 18, 2013.
Reliable sources say that Government is fully aware of the fact that the impact of the strike will be massive.
Mr. Kofi Asamoah, Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) says in addition to the 17 national unions affiliated to the TUC, many other organised labour groups will join the strike.
These include, the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the University Teacher Association of Ghana (UTAG) and the Ghana Medical Association (GMA).
Speaking on TV3�s current affairs programme �Hot Issues� Mr. Asamoah disclosed that the TUC is also in contact with several market womens� associations.
Government sources say that it is prepared to do any and everything to avert the strike.
It is expected that later this week, Government will announce its acceptance of the idea of staggering the utility tariff increase over a period of about three years.
What is not clear is what the first increase will amount to and when the automatic tariff adjustment formular will kick in.
Sources close to organised labour say that their demand is for a starting point increase of not more than 30 percent.
Earlier, Government had indicated that its starting point increase would be in the region of 60 percent.
Leaders of organised labour have become increasingly angry at Government propagandists who claim that the opposition is behind the call for the strike.
All things being equal, The Insight expects the Government to put a firm offer on the table for discussion by the close of day, tomorrow.
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