SONITRA re-instates dismissed workers

Accra, Feb 25, GNA - The Management of SONITRA has re-instated five workers, who were dismissed recently for embarking on a strike action. The Management's decision followed the outcome of a meeting convened jointly by the Association of Building and Civil Contractors of Ghana (ABCCG), and the Construction and Building Materials Workers' Union (CBMMU) on Thursday, February 19.

A statement issued and signed jointly by Mr Samuel Obeng, National President of ABCCG and Mr P.M. K. Quainoo, General Secretary of CBMMU, said the meeting found out that the striking workers did not follow laid down procedure as contained in the Collective Bargaining Agreement for the resolution of conflicts.

The statement noted that, incidentally, the meeting also detected that the main issue in the dispute was over the taxation of overtime allowances, which according to the meeting, was not SONITRA's responsibility, but rather "an act of governance under the laws of Ghana."

The statement noted that because the striking workers' faulted, Management of SONITRA was right in its decision to dismiss the five workers, "a penalty which they subsequently reduced to termination of appointment with due entitlements"

It noted further that the solidarity shown by the entire workers of SONITRA in Accra was equally unlawful.

The statement explained that, the affected workers, having realised their mistake, had duly apologised to the Management of SONITRA, ABCCG and the National Secretariat of CBMMU for their actions. The Management had not only accepted the apology, but had also expressed appreciation for the intervention from ABCCG and CBMMU.