Union dissatisfied with dismissal of Airways Catering workers

Accra, March 27, GNA - The General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union (GTPCWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) on Tuesday expressed displeasure over the mass dismissal of workers of the Airways Catering Limited (ACL) by the Management.

It, however, appealed to all unions intending to embark on solidarity actions in the form of sympathy strikes or "go-slow" to hold on until further notice.

A statement signed by Mr P.A. Amissah, Deputy General Secretary of the Union, explained that the workers had embarked on a peaceful demonstration to protest against the arrest of some leaders of the local union.

The statement said the leadership of the GTPCWU had reported the dismissal of the workers to the National Labour Commission (NLC) for the necessary action and urged the workers to stay calm, as efforts had been duly initiated to secure the release of the detained union members, while awaiting appropriate action from the NLC. The statement said the GTPCWU had already lodged complaints with the NLC as far back as February 6, 2006 on the issue, but matters got worse on March 16, 2007, when four members of the local Union were arrested and detained in advance of a peaceful demonstration scheduled for March 19.

It said the local union of the ACL had duly notified the Ghana Police about its intended demonstration with the proposed route by a letter dated Friday March 9, 2007.