38 dismissed ATL workers reported dead!

The Crusading Guide in another story caries that thirty-eight dismissed workers of the Akosombo Textiles Limited (ATL) have been reported dead as a result of frustration since their dismissal in 1999. Some of the deceased were mentioned as Paul Sasu, Papa Odjar, Alfred Teye Sharday and Raymond Kumah.

The Crusading Guide says this was disclosed to it in an interview with Messrs Bismark Twum Addo and Prince Ampong Darko, spokespersons of some of the dismissed workers at Akosombo.

According to the leaders, most children whose parents were involved in the dismissal exercise are now school dropouts. It was also revealed that some of them (dismissed workers) have had their marriages broken whilst others have been ejected from their houses. They have therefore petitioned the President to institute an enquiry into the matter.

The Crusading Guide recalls a story published with the headline, “DISMISSED ATL WORKERS PETITION MINISTER” in its 14th – 21st august 2001 edition. In the said story, the 298 dismissed workers were said to have petitioned the Minister for Manpower development and Employment to investigate the circumstances, which led to their dismissal.

The story also stated that in January 1999, the workers embarked on a peaceful demonstration to demand better wages during their wage opener negotiations. This resulted in the dismissal of the first 164 workers, including the Local Union Executive. It further stated that the 298 workers who were dismissed were those who had done long service (between 10 and 30 years) with ATL.