ICU to boycott hotels ...

which prevent their workers to be unionised

Mr Napoleon Kpoh, General-Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), on Friday announced that the labour movement has decided to boycott all hotels, which prevent their workers from being unionised.

" If they don't want their workers to enjoy the sweat of their labour then they don't deserve to benefit from those who have been unionised," he said.

Mr Kpoh said this in answer to questions put to him at the Volta Region delegates' conference of the ICU at Ho.

In all eight "anti-union" hotels have been identified in the Volta Region with some of them allegedly, threatening labour leaders for making moves to respond to workers desire for unionization.

Some hotel proprietors are alleged to have coerced workers who initiate moves to be unionised to abandon their cause, he said.

Mr Kpoh, however, reminded proprietors of such hotels and other employers to take notice of the constitutional provision on freedom of association.

He, however, commended management of some hotels in Ho for allowing its workers to be union members.

The ICU General-Secretary reminded managements of hotels that labour unions are not just about agitations for improved working conditions for workers.

The Union officials also educate workers on their commitments to employers, he said.

He said there is no law in the country, which denies casual workers of their rights to become permanent staff, saying the Union is achieving its goal of dealing with the problem in the Tema area.

Mr Kpoh said the onus is however on workplace branches of the Union to furnish the leadership of ICU with such problems for it to properly address them.