Find in-house solutions to industrial problems - Unions urged

Accra, Jan 19, GNA - Labour Unions have been urged to resolve industrial and other problems within their workplace without taking them into the public domain to attract outside interventions and interference.

Mr Richard D Amparbeng, Regional Industrial Relations Officer of the Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), gave the advice at the inauguration of new Executive Officers of Ghana News Agency (GNA) branch of the Union in Accra. He advised workers to remain united to protect their interest and the good name of their organisations since management and workers as important stakeholders should cooperate to attain results and corporate objectives.

Mr Ampabeng also asked managements to find 'in-house' solutions to industrial problems since some of the "external influences" and interventions may not be in the interest of their organisations and workers.

He stressed the need for industrial peace and advised union executives to strive to ensure that they are not perceived as "trouble makers". "You should represent the interest of all workers and not only a section of them and not to lord it over your fellow workers," he added. Nana Apau Duah, Supervising Chief Editor, called for mutual respect and cooperation between the management and workers, saying, "We cannot work in a vacuum, after all, there can be no management without workers and there can be no workers without management". He congratulated the new executives on their election and stressed the need for absolute peace and cooperation to move the organisation forward.

"Bickering and quarrels should be behind us and we should all get on-board to move GNA forward," Nana Apau Duah added. Mr Ben Mintah, Chairman, on behalf of the executives stressed their commitment to maintain a peaceful industrial front and called for the cooperation of the management to solve the problems of the organisation for a positive impact on the Agency.

He gave the assurance that the new executives would promote the interest of all the workers and the Agency.

The seven-member executive has Mr Agyepong Darko as Vice Chairman, Mrs Sapphire Giftan, 2nd Vice Chair Person and Mr A A Blay, Secretary. Mr Albert Allotey, Assistant Secretary, Reverend Father Titus-Glover, First Trustee and Mr. Teiko Armah, Second Trustee.