Telecom workers on strike

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) - Workers of Ghana Telecom in Kumasi on Thursday said they would continue their strike action until the management reviews their salary structure.

The workers marched through some of the streets at Adum, precincts of their offices singing songs in protest against what they described as maladministration and cheating by the management. They have since last Friday embarked on a sit-down strike action to back their demand for improved service conditions.

The workers are demanding a 150 per cent increase in salary across board but the management says it can afford only a 30 per cent increase. Mr Kofi Ahmed Nuhu, local Chairman of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), told the Ghana News Agency that some workers of the company, after 26 years of service, take home about 6.7 million cedis as retirement benefit. Where as some senior workers for the same period on retirement take home 80 million cedis. Mr Nuhu explained that the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) of the company expired in December, last year, adding that management agreed to pay 35 per cent increase in salary across board but the union did not accept the offer.

A salary restructuring last year favoured only the senior staff at the expense of the junior staff. Concerning promotions, Mr Nuhu said, over the past 10 years, there have not been any promotions in the company. A committee was set up to review the structure and promotions but nothing has been done about its recommendations, Mr. Nuhu added.