TUC says STC should be sold to workers and management

Accra, Feb. 22, GNA - The General Transport Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union (GTPCWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) on Tuesday said the State Transport Corporation (STC) should be sold to its workers and management since Vanef Consortium has failed to fulfil its financial obligations to the Divestiture Implementation Committee.

Speaking to newsmen in Accra, Mr J. N. Y. Atopley, General-Secretary, said the union had never been comfortable with the preference given to Vanef since 1996 on the divestiture of STC.

He added that Vanef's incompetent handling of the issues have been seriously affecting the continued smooth operation of the company. "Curiously enough the union has now been reliably informed that as at last February eight, 2000, Vanef had woefully failed to fulfil its financial obligation to the DIC to actualise its purchase offer.

"The union is also aware that Vanef's offer had elapsed since February one, 2000, which means it has legally forfeited its right of purchase of STC." The General-Secretary said the union, disturbed by "these developments, wrote a letter on February 16, 2000, to DIC on the divestiture of STC".

The letter drew attention to a letter DIC/126/156 of September 21, 1999, which promised that "in case of Vanef's failure to honour its pledge, the union, which is the second best bidder, would automatically be considered for the take-over bid".

The union, therefore, urged the DIC to honour its promise urgently to ease tension and ensure industrial peace. Workers of the STC have volunteered to sacrifice their severance pay and convert them into an initial working capital for the divested company.

Mr Atopley said although the union appealed to President Jerry John Rawlings to intervene on their behalf in their buy-out bid, "we are yet to receive a reply". "We know the government has granted a similar offer to the workers of the Prestea Gold Mines in the Western Region, which was abandoned by its South African management. "The mine workers had now turned the company round into a productive venture."