Workers advised on grievance procedures

Tema, March 08, GNA - Workers have been advised to use laid down procedures to resolve grievances to ensure that peace always prevailed at the labour front.

Ms Esther Wellington, Tema Municipal Labour Officer, who gave the advice, said although workers could not be denied of their rights they should make sure that laid procedures were always followed.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency at the weekend, Ms Wellington asked workers to be mindful of the principle "we work to live" in order to safeguard their jobs, she asked, "if you don't protect your jobs and you lose it how do you live?"

She, however, stressed the need for an open door policy to be practised in every organisation and this she said would ensure transparency between management and workers.

Ms Wellington called for regular informal interactions in every organisation to enable the management to clarify and explain issues to workers to ensure industrial harmony.

"If such interactions are done it could also reduce tension and workers would find it easier to approach those above them if they have any problem".

She said it was necessary for management to live above reproach by leading exemplary lives to absolve themselves of blame which she said fan most of these agitations.

She said the Labour Office in Tema recorded 11 industrial actions in 2002 and eight in 2003 and said all were peaceful and solutions were found to them at the end.

She cited the case of the workers of Ghana Agro Foods Company (GAFCO), who demonstrated for the removal of their Human Resource Manager.

She said the Management had to shut down the company for 11 days until a decision was arrived at before the company could be reopened for workers to reapply.

In another instance, she said in 2003, Pioneer Food Cannery was shut down for two days due to the 'go slow" attitude of workers, who were agitating for production bonus.

She described the labour front as generally peaceful.