Tag Archives: Organised Labour

News, Politics, Topstory

Organised Labour needs to be well-structured – GFL Boss

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The Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Mr Abraham Koomson has criticised Organised Labour for calling off its intended strike planned for October 10, which was aimed at protesting the government’s failure to combat illegal mining (galamsey).

Organised labour said it called off the strike after the government announced new measures to address the crisis, including the suspension of a legislative instrument that permits mining in forest reserves.

Government had also deployed military forces to combat illegal mining in the forests and along the rivers of the country.

Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Joshua Ansah on Wednesday said the strike was called off because the President had also directed the Lands Minister to submit a request to Parliament for the revocation of L.I. 2462 as they were demanding from the government.

However, Organised labourt is facing significant backlash following its decision to soften its stance on the mining crisis.

Speaking on Power Kasiebo on TV XYZ, Mr Koomson whose group forms part of Organised Labour said he did not expect Organised labour to suspend the strike based on mere “promises” from President Akufo-Addo.

He said the leadership of the workers group was not united enough to take a decisive position on illegal mining which is having serious health implications on millions of Ghanaians.

“I think Organised Labour is disorganised and the structures needs to work,” he lamented and explained that the situation was critical and that a similar fight by the government failed because of corruption.

He expected Organised Labour to wait for the results of the government’s strategies before softening its stance on the industrial action.

“We saw how the government tackled this crisis in the past, we saw how it failed so I was not expecting our people to back down on mere promises from the government,” Mr Koomson lamented in Akan as he pointed that Organised Labour will lose credibility for taking such a decision.

UTAG

Meanwhile, the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has broken away from Organised Labour’s stance, announcing its own nationwide strike, which took effect on October 10.

The strike action was announced in a statement after UTAG members in all its 15-member universities voted online on the matter. About 77 per cent of members voted to support the strike action to get the government to act decisively to halt all forms of mining activities in the country to safeguard forest reserves and water bodies.

National President of UTAG, Mr. Mamudu Akudugu, expressed disappointment with Organised Labour’s decision but said it was not unexpected.

“I think every Ghanaian is disappointed, and UTAG also rightly so. But of course, the truth is that we already knew that this may happen, and so we stayed close on glue to our internal processes, and we saw that we are not twiddling in any way,” Mr Akudugu said in an interview with Joy News.

“We are duty-bound to show leadership. And so for everybody to even conceive and think that we are doing the bidding of a political party, it is a very big insult to the intellectual community of the country, and we take an exception to that,” he said.

 

Source: Myxyzonline.com

 

News, Topstory

UG-UTAG votes to support Organised Labour’s strike against galamsey

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The University Teachers Association of Ghana  chapter of the  University of Ghana (UG-UTAG) says its supports the nationwide strike by Organised Labour set for October 10, 2024, in protest against illegal mining in the country.

Organised Labour has been urging President Nana Akufo-Addo to declare a state of emergency on illegal mining and implement long-term solutions to combat the menace of indiscriminate plowing of forest reserves for gold.

The workers have threatened to strike on October 10,2024 due to the Government’s failure to tackle illegal mining also known as galamsey.

At the end of the voting process on Tuesday, 355 members (80.14%) supported the strike, while 88 members (19.86%) opposed it, out of a total of 443 votes cast.

Professor Ransford Gyampo, President of UG-UTAG, in an interview on Accra-based Citi FM strongly criticised the government’s inaction, citing the need for more decisive measures to combat illegal mining.

His comments follow a closed-door meeting between President Akufo-Addo and Organised Labour leaders, where the President requested more time to address the issue.

At the meeting held last Thursday, the group expressed dissatisfaction with President Akufo-Addo’s response to their demands, despite his reaffirmed commitment to addressing the illegal mining issue.

Speaking to the media on Monday, October 7, the Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Joshua Ansah, reiterated the union’s determination to go ahead with the strike unless significant action is taken by the government before the ultimatum.

GMA Chickens Out

Ahead of the industrial action by Organised labour, the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) announced that its members will continue to work despite the strike scheduled for tomorrow.

The Association’s President, Dr. Frank Serebour, in a statement on Tuesday gave a directive for GMA members to continue working despite a nationwide strike by Organised Labour.

However that has been met with harsh criticisms from some leading members of the Association which was part of a group of health professionals across the country that called on President Akufo-Addo last month to swiftly enforce a ban on all small-scale mining operations in the country.

The group  comprised the Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA), the Health Services Workers Union of Ghana – TUC, the Medical Laboratory Professional Workers’ Union (MELPWU), the Mortuary Workers’ Association of Ghana (MOWAG), the Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anesthetists (GACRA), the Health Accounting Staff Association (HASAG), and Ghana Physician Assistants Association (GPAA).

Their concerns hinged on the severe health risks linked to galamsey. The group stressed that the unchecked mining practices pose significant threats to the well-being of communities, necessitating an immediate and direct ban.

By taking decisive action, they said the government can help mitigate the harmful health effects and protect the health and safety of citizens in the areas where lands are plowed indiscriminately for gold.

Parts of a joint statement by the group of professionals stated ,”The rise in cases of respiratory illnesses, skin infections, and waterborne diseases such as cholera and diarrhea in these communities is a direct consequence of the unchecked mining activities.

“We are witnessing an ecological disaster with direct implications for human health, and this must be addressed with urgency,” the group warned.

It is for this reason that a formal petition has been filed by a member of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr. Vishnu Nene Limon Abayateye, calling for the removal of Dr. Frank Serebour.

In the petition, which is set to be addressed at the GMA’s annual general assembly meeting in Ho in November, Dr. Abayateye criticised Dr. Serebour for allegedly acting unilaterally in issuing a statement that the GMA would not participate in the strike.

He stated that the Associatiomn’s president gave the directive without consulting the National Executive Council or the general assembly.

“This is in obvious contravention of article 16 of the GMA constitution,” Dr. Abayateye wrote, emphasising that the president’s actions were not representative of the broader membership’s views.

 

Source: Myxyzonline.com

Busines, News

Organised Labour threatens to strike May 2 over Tier-2 pension arrears

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Organised Labour has warned of a potential strike on May 2, 2024, if the government fails to fulfil its obligation to pay the tier-2 pensions of its members.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) and its associated unions assert that despite numerous appeals, the government has disregarded their demands.

Dr. Anthony Yaw Baah, Secretary-General of the TUC, emphasized that with the government’s persistent inaction, Organised Labour sees no alternative but to resort to strike action.

“You may know that the public sector unions under the forum have already given notice that on the 2nd of May, if they don’t hear anything about the payment of this second tier on the 30th of April, they will strike.

“We will want to send this notice to the government that if by the 30th of April they don’t do anything about this our second tier, on the 2nd of May we will all join the forum. I can imagine what will happen in this country if they allow this thing to happen.”

The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) on Thursday also expressed deep concern over the government’s alleged failure to pay mandatory contributions for over 700,000 Ghanaian workers.

NAGRAT President, Angel Carbonu, accused the government of financial misconduct during a press conference on Thursday, April 18. He specifically highlighted the non-payment of Tier 2 pension scheme contributions and other third-party deductions since July 2023.

Mr. Carbonu emphasized that these contributions are being deducted from workers’ salaries but not reaching the designated institutions.

This raises serious doubts, according to NAGRAT, about the future financial security of these workers, particularly upon retirement.

 

Source: Citinewsroom.com

News, Topstory

VAT on Electricity: GFL disappointed at Organised Labour’s U-turn on demo

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The Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) has expressed disappointment over the decision of Organised Labour to suspended its planned demonstration over the 15 percent Value Added Tax  (VAT) on Electricity.

Organised Labour had announced February 13, 2024 as the date for the street protest which was scheduled to take place in all the regional capitals but on Friday, the Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Dr Yaw Baah, announced the suspension of the impending demonstration.

Reacting to the news, the Secretary-General of GFL, Mr Abraham Koomson, said Organised Labour had betrayed some of its members with the suspension of the protest which could have sent a strong signal to the government to withdraw the tax policy.

“We are disappointed at how things are unfolding…Organised Labour looks more disorganised. We are not properly organised,” he told Akora Kofi Darko on TV XYZ News Friday.

Mr. Koomson said he did not know what happened to the initial plans of protesting despite an announcement from the government that it had suspended the policy for further stakeholder engagement.

He said the demonstration would have forced the government to withdraw the tax policy completely.

“I don’t know what happened. The taxes are plenty and they are collapsing businesses. We are paying about 18 different taxes, including ‘borla taxes’… the protest would have piled pressure on government to act,” Mr Koomson stated and added that he suspects some elements in government have been able to compromise the leadership of the labour group.

Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Dr Yaw Baah, at a press conference in Accra emphasized their commitment to advocating against what he termed “unfavourable tax policies.”

 

Source: Myxyzonline.com

Busines, News, Topstory

We won’t engage govt on electricity VAT— Organised Labour

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Organised labour in the Greater Accra Region says it is not ready for any engagement with the government on the 15 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) imposed on electricity consumption for residential customers.

Addressing a news conference in Accra yesterday, the Greater Accra Chairperson, Patrick Benyemi, stressed that “organised labour’s position is a total and unconditional withdrawal of the 15 per cent VAT and not suspension of it”.

He said if the government failed to heed the demand, members of organised labour would lay down their tools next Tuesday to drum home their demand.

Mr Benyemi explained that the implementation of the VAT would aggravate the plight of the already overburdened population.

“We, as Greater Accra organised labour, associate ourselves with the demands of our national leaders and thereby emphasise that we cannot pay VAT on electricity.

“We will not pay it today; we will not pay it tomorrow. Organised labour in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana unequivocally opposes this decision to impose a 15 per cent VAT on electricity consumption,” he said.

Regression

Describing the policy as a regressive one, he said it would threaten the livelihoods of hardworking Ghanaians and undermine the nation’s economic stability.

“Imposition of this awkward, bad and nuisance VAT on electricity, a basic necessity for households and businesses alike, will unreasonably burden already struggling citizens.

“Low-income families will be hit the hardest as they are forced to allocate a larger portion of their income to cover essential electricity bills,” Mr Benyemi added.

Electricity, he said, was not a luxury but a fundamental utility essential for everyday life and economic productivity and added that taxing it would only exacerbate inequality and widen the gap between the wealthy and the vulnerable in our society.

Background

The government directed the relevant agencies to begin the implementation of the 15 per cent VAT on domestic consumption of electricity at the start of the year to raise revenue as part of its COVID-19 recovery efforts and as part of conditions to satisfy the government’s latest programme with the International Monetary Fund.

In a letter dated January 1, 2024, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, instructed the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO) to apply the VAT to residential customers exceeding the maximum consumption level for lifeline units.

But in January this year, the national leadership of organised labour, led by the Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Dr Yaw Baah, gave the government a one-week ultimatum to withdraw the VAT on electricity for residential customers.

He said the implementation of the VAT on residential customers would worsen the plight of already burdened Ghanaians since the cost of electricity would go up by 15 per cent.

This month, organised labour announced that its members would lay down their tools on February 13, but the government has since suspended the directive for further engagement.

 

Source: Graphic