Press release: Progressive Democrats

We have noted with absolute dismay a directive by the Trade Union Congress(TUC) declaring a nationwide strike following a ten(10) day ultimatum issued to government which according to our checks has elapsed.

The TUC among other things have called on Organized Labour groups across the country to “convene emergency meetings as soon as possible to adopt the necessary resolutions to back the planned nationwide industrial actions. They have also declared demonstrations across the ten (10) regions of Ghana.

It must be noted vividly that the government in response to the ten day ultimatum constituted a Technical Working Group led by Dr Joe Abbey Executive Director of Center for Policy Analysis (CEPA) to among other terms of reference “examine mitigating measures that would allow industry and consumers to adjust to any new level of tariff adjustment.”

Indeed the interim report as submitted by the committee indicated that a 110% increase, although ideal for efficient running of the energy sector will prove too burdensome for the average Ghanaian. It also added that a 50% will be a put-off for the Private Power Producers and will require government providing budgetary support for the companies.

The Technical Committee concluded however that a 60% was reasonable though will still elicit government budget auxiliary.

In lieu of these reactive measures by government, we only anticipated that the TUC would wait to hear government’s response after studying the report for their next line of action only to hear that the TUC has repudiated the report of the Technical Committee and declared an industrial action beginning from 18th November, 2013.

In spite of these developments, the Ghana Federation of Labour a member of organized labour conglomerate has launched a stark opposition to TUCs action describing it as “populist and hypocritical” showing clearly that other labour union fronts are not in concord with these overambitious actions of the TUC.

The PROGRESSIVE DEMOCTRATS having noted the dire repercussions that will bedevil this nation if TUCs directives are adhered to wishes to condemn unreservedly the directives of the TUC and appeal to them as a matter of urgency to

(I) Call off the nationwide intended strike (ii) Engineer a proper consultation with all stakeholder groups

(iii) Employ a more malleable means of negotiation with government in their quest towards upholding the interest of the impecunious Ghanaians worker.

We also wish to appeal to government to have a second look at the current ballooned utility prices which has created a huge public uproar and discomfort among the people and subsequently adopt the automatic price adjustment formula in the future to forestall any replication of this turbulent situation.

LONG LIVE PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS LONG LIVE GHANA

SIGNED: STEPHEN SACKEY-COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR NII AYI ANTEH-GENERAL SECRETARY ABDULAI A. WARIS-