TUC And GFL Urged To Take Up A United Stance Against Gov’t

Out-going Executive Director of the Danquah Institute has implored the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to quickly end the seeming impasse between them. The labour front appears divided as the GFL has openly objected to the position taken by the TUC on the tariff hikes on utilities in the country. The GFL is oppose to the TUC’s threat to government of a nationwide strike if the utility tariffs are not revised. TUC issued a 10-day ultimatum to government and the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to reduce the tariffs. The PURC announced the changes in tariffs, stating a 78.9 percent increase on electricity and 52 percent on water. According to the TUC, the increase is too high and fearing the effects it may have on the livelihood of Ghanaians, issued the ultimatum to the PURC and government or face their wrath. But the TUC’s threat has been described as "uncalled for" by labour unions in the manufacturing sector. General Secretary of the GFL, Abraham Koomson, disclosed that many of the labour unions are unhappy about the position taken by the TUC. “TUC doesn’t have that mandate to go and take decisions without informing the other groupings- Civil Servant Association, Nurses NAGRAT - then you want us to undertake the threat that you have given.” Addressing the issue on Oman FM's political programme, Gabby Okyere Darko advised the two agencies to end their feud and rather take a united stance against the government. He implored the leadership of the TUC and the GFL to "agree among themselves and sit in their room to discuss the way forward to deal with government.” He noted that the misunderstanding between the two agencies will not help them remedy the situation.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana