Railway workers call off strike

Accra, April 2, GNA - Workers of the Ghana Railway Company Limited have decided to call off their strike action and resume work on Friday, April 4.

A statement issued in Accra on Wednesday by the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment said this followed a meeting attended by the Interim Management Committee of the Railway Workers Union, the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment, Ministry of Harbours and Railways, the TUC and National Labour Commission. The statement said the meeting held under the chairmanship of Nana Akomea, Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, agreed on a number of key issues that formed the basis of a memorandum of understanding signed by the stakeholders on Tuesday. These are prompt payment of outstanding salary arrears and establishment of a committee to investigate grievances expressed by the workers and the submission of the report within 21 days of its inception.

Another issue is the reconvening of the Standing Joint Negotiation Committee to review the Collective Bargaining Agreement, including wages and salaries which elapsed in 2000. The statement said the Interim Chairman of the Railway Workers Union, Mr K.T. Dadzie, reiterated the "total commitment" of workers of the Company to collaborate with government, board and management to ensure the growth and sustainability of the railway system in Ghana. The Deputy Minister of Harbours and Railways, Mrs. Sophia Horner-Sam pledged government's commitment to revamp the railway sector. She said the government had allocated 90 million dollars for the rehabilitation of the Western line.

The meeting urged all stakeholders to abide by the terms and conditions agreed in the MOU.

A Sekondi High Court on Monday adjourned to April 9, a case in which the National Labour Commission (NLC) had instituted legal action against the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Ghana Railway Company (GRC) for not calling off an industrial strike began on February 15, this year. The workers were demanding the removal of their Managing Director, Mr. Rufus Quaye, a 150 per cent increase in their salaries and payment of outstanding four months' salary.