Tema, July 25, GNA - Members of Tema District Council of Labour (TDCL) have called on the National Executive of Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC) to work towards restoration of the dignity of the Ghanaian worker.
They urged GTUC to ensure its policy on decent work was adhered to by all employers in the country. The call was contained in a resolution signed by Mr Wilson Agana, Chairman and Mr Godfred Odum, Secretary, addressed to Nana Akomea, Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, copied to GTUC, National Labour Commission, Ghana Employers Association and other stakeholders. A copy of the resolution made available to Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Tema said members of the Council were surprised that acts of impunity were happening at work places even though Ghana had a "National Labour Commission charged with the responsibility to effectively deal with deviant behaviour".
The resolution warned that "workers of Ghana can no longer sit down and watch the dignity of the Ghanaian worker trampled upon and destiny of the people toyed with by employers". It claimed there was a conspiracy among employers in the country to collapse the union movement to create the needed space to intimidate and exploit workers.
Citing examples of unfair treatment of employees, it mentioned the dismissal of the Union Vice-Chairman of Procredit Savings and Loans Company by its Management on July 21, this year, for allegedly using the company's premises to solicit membership for the union. It further mentioned the dismissal of some union executives of Bank of Ghana, 18 workers of Continental Export Company, Union Chairman for Standard Water, 10 employees of Dutchotel Company as well as the termination of appointments of workers of Glotech Engineering Company for deciding to form a union.
The resolution said the "proposed lay-off of about 2,000 workers of Ghana Telecom (GT) as part of the insensitive and unpatriotic decision to sell 70 per cent of the company to Vodafon" would also negatively affect the Ghanaian worker.
The TDCL therefore, reiterated the call for the immediate halt to moves to sell GT and asked for a probe into the decision to sell the national asset.
The resolution warned that "if our demands are not met within two weeks then the Council would advice itself and the consequences shall be blamed on those who have failed to take the necessary actions". 25 July 08
