TIG Post

Tag: Ghana Trades Union Congress

  • TUC to protest today over dismissal of Sunon Asogli workers

    TUC to protest today over dismissal of Sunon Asogli workers

    In solidarity with the Ghana Mine Workers’ Union, the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC) will stage a protest today, May 9, against what it claims a violation of workers’ rights by a Chinese corporation, Sunon Asogli Power Ghana.

    This follows the expiry of an ultimatum given by various unions for the company to reinstate contract workers whose appointments were terminated for allegedly joining the Ghana Mine Workers’ Union.

    Secretary General of TUC, Dr. Yaw Baah said the Police in Tema have been notified of the protest.

    Dr. Yaw Baah, addressing journalists said, “We need to show that we are a union, and we have to do what unions do. What unions do is very clear in the actions we take. The minister came in but there was no success. This last Friday, May 5, we were in a meeting with Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, for two hours plus, and we also met the leaders and management for four hours and nothing came out of it”.

    Dr. Yaw Baah said TUC and sector unions under it will continue to fight until their demands are met.

    “Our demand is very simple, our three brothers should be reinstated now. They have done nothing wrong, they only exercised their rights. People want to join the union, and they are losing their jobs? We should never allow this to happen. Eat well and reserve your energy because today we will take action, we are prepared. We are going to fight and fight until we win, so get ready. You [Sunon Asogli Ghana Limited] cannot deny workers of Ghana the right to unionise. Labour is not a commodity you can buy from the shelf, use it and throw it away,” Dr. Yaw Baah stated.

    Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the Ghana Mine Workers’ Union of TUC Abdul-Moomin Gbana says a series of protests and industrial actions will also be held if their demands are not met.

    “TUC has resolved to use every means including protest marches, picketing, demonstrations, strike actions across the industry and the country to demand the reinstatement of the three dismissed local union leaders of Sunon Asogli Ghana Limited. We will also work with TUC Ghana and all organised groups and those abroad to demand the reinstatement of the leaders, and halt the notorious acts of intimidation and victimisation by Sunon Asogli Ghana Limited without further delay,” Abdul-Moomin Gbana stated.

  • Organised Labour proposes a 60% increment in base pay for 2023

    Organised Labour has proposed a 60 percent increment in base pay for the year 2023 as they begin negotiations with the government.

    In a letter signed by TUC General Secretary, Dr. Yaw Baah and Isaac Bampoe Addo, Chairman of the forum of Public Sector Workers, Organised Labour cited the rising inflation and the 15% Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) granted on the National Daily Minimum Wage as grounds for their proposal.

    “Due to the inflationary trends and the fact that 15% COLA has been granted on the National Daily Minimum Wage (NDMw). We humbly propose that a 60% increase on the 2022 Base Pay should be considered,” a portion of the letter read.

    According to Organised Labour, a huge gap has been created between the National Daily Minimum Wage and the Base Pay as a result of accepting COLA instead of normal salary increase and granting increases in the National Daily Minimum Wage.

    The group said currently, the 2022 daily Base Pay on the 2022 Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) is 16.26% below the 2022 daily minimum wage.

    “In order to close the gap and restore the 10% point with respect to the National Daily Minimum Wage (NDMW), the daily Base Pay for 2023 should be GH¢l4.88 plus 10% which is GH¢16.37,” Organised Labour said.

    They, therefore, want the annual Base Pay on the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) for 2023 to be increased to GH¢5,303.23 from the current GH¢3,672.84.

    Organised Labour further contended that the government ought to have increased the annual increment of 1.7% on the Single Spine Salary Structure to 2% in 2012.

    This, they said has not happened since 2012 and want the government to implement that next year.

    “However, over the years, our plea to adjust the 1.7% step increment (annual increment) to a 2% step increment has fallen on deaf ears. The Organized Labour can no longer wait for the implementation of the 2% step increment,” they stated.