More unions could join COLA strike – Organised Labour warns

Organised Labour has warned that more unions may join the strike to demand the payment of Cost of Living Allowance.

They have accused the government of failing to present a proposal during Tuesday’s engagement with over 20 Labour unions.

The government’s attempt to get the four teacher unions on strike over the Cost of Living Allowance to return to the classroom failed, as a meeting with them ended in a stalemate.

During the meeting on Tuesday, the government asked the leadership of the unions to call off their strike before negotiations could begin, but the teachers remained adamant and subsequently staged a walkout.

A representative of the Ghana Association of University Administrators, Michael Owusu-Ansah accused the government of using inappropriate methods to resolve issues.

“If the government was concerned, the government could have called a meeting earlier and engaged the striking unions before meeting the bigger unions,” he said.

“Labour is very dissatisfied and for me, my fear is that we may have more unions joining the striking unions because that appears to be the conversation government understands,” Mr. Owusu-Ansah said.

Meanwhile, government has expressed optimism about reaching an agreement with labour.

Although he could not give timelines for the next meeting, the Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Bright Wereko Brobby, was however hopeful more engagements would be held to resolve the impasse.“The call was from organised labour for us to adjourn so that we do more engagement. They themselves are going to talk to the teacher unions. We ourselves will also do same, have a meeting and start negotiating for better conditions of service for Ghana workers.”

KASTLE90.3FM – tune in or log on to broadcasts online
Follow us on Twitter: @kastle903fm
#kastlef90.3fm, Cape Coast
#…Blending tradition with style

Source: citinewsroom.com