Two Unions Merge After Settling Differences In Opinion

Accra, (Greater Accra) 22 Sept., The Textile, Garment and Leather Employees Union (TEGLU) and the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) have merged after amicably settling their differences at the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare today. TEGLU seceded from the ICU in September, 1992, after some of its members, felt they were being marginalised in decision-making. They formed TEGLU and obtained a bargaining certificate in December 1993 to become an autonomous national union. The ICU sought redress in court feeling that TEGLU had conscripted its members to form a union. Mr. Austin Gamey, Deputy Minister Of Employment, who presided at the peace meeting, said following the settlement, all legal battles pending in the courts should be withdrawn. He said Mr. Abraham Koomson, General Secretary of the TEGLU, will become the new Assistant General Secretary (Technical Affairs) of ICU while other National Executives of the TEGLU would become ICU national officers. In the same way, the auxiliary staff would become permanent officers of the ICU. Meanwhile, Mr. Gamey has directed that frozen union dues up to September this year at the Ghana Textile Manufacturing Company (GTMC) should be transferred to TEGLU. Both parties agreed to use the TEGLU Bargaining Agreement to cover workers of the GTMC for the meantime. It is expected that between Wednesday, October 1st to 15th, the two parties would have communicated the merger arrangements to workers of Akosombo Textile Limited (ATL) and Spintex. The GTMC local office will be co-chaired by executives of the two unions.

Accra, (Greater Accra) 22 Sept., The Textile, Garment and Leather Employees Union (TEGLU) and the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) have merged after amicably settling their differences at the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare today. TEGLU seceded from the ICU in September, 1992, after some of its members, felt they were being marginalised in decision-making. They formed TEGLU and obtained a bargaining certificate in December 1993 to become an autonomous national union. The ICU sought redress in court feeling that TEGLU had conscripted its members to form a union. Mr. Austin Gamey, Deputy Minister Of Employment, who presided at the peace meeting, said following the settlement, all legal battles pending in the courts should be withdrawn. He said Mr. Abraham Koomson, General Secretary of the TEGLU, will become the new Assistant General Secretary (Technical Affairs) of ICU while other National Executives of the TEGLU would become ICU national officers. In the same way, the auxiliary staff would become permanent officers of the ICU. Meanwhile, Mr. Gamey has directed that frozen union dues up to September this year at the Ghana Textile Manufacturing Company (GTMC) should be transferred to TEGLU. Both parties agreed to use the TEGLU Bargaining Agreement to cover workers of the GTMC for the meantime. It is expected that between Wednesday, October 1st to 15th, the two parties would have communicated the merger arrangements to workers of Akosombo Textile Limited (ATL) and Spintex. The GTMC local office will be co-chaired by executives of the two unions.