Union advised to raise image of construction industry

Bolgatanga, Jan. 24, GNA - The General Secretary of the Construction and Building Materials Workers Union (CBMWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Mr. Pius Quainoo has called on all social partners in the construction sector to work together to raise the sinking image of the industry.

They should also provide decent work, minimise industrial disharmony and build genuine partnership to move the sector forward. Mr. Quainoo made the call at Bolgatanga when he addressed a gathering of construction workers in the Region.

He said while the majority of construction companies existed merely in name others were actually into serious business.

The General Secretary observed that such employers took arbitrary actions to create empires for themselves, exploit and suppress the workers with no regard to human rights.

Mr. Quainoo warned that when workers were made voiceless at workplace the only avenue open to them was to respond with industrial action, saying there was the need to create a platform for social dialogue among all parties.

He commended the government for working hard to attract international goodwill that had resulted in massive grants from around the globe. He pleaded that workers engaged on grant projects should not be maltreated.

Mr Quainoo urged construction workers to support the Union and play an active role instead of waiting to be dismissed or retrenched before seeking redress through the Union.

The regional Industrial relation officer, Sister Comfort Agambah, called the attention of employers to the Labour Act, which she said, had conferred on casual workers certain rights that needed to be respected. She advised both management and workers to negotiate collective agreements in good faith to minimise the incidence of industrial actions.