Source: newsthemegh.com
The government wants to include a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) in the next compensation discussions for public sector employees, but organized labour has spoken out against the idea.
The idea of COLA, which aims to provide temporary assistance when quick salary adjustments are impractical, has not been well received by Organized Labor.
They contend that it would only have a minor effect on perks like pension payments and other ancillary benefits.
The Trade Union Congress’ (TUC) Deputy General Secretary, Mr. Joshua Ansah, reaffirmed their stance, saying they are pushing for significant pay raises rather than just a COLA.
Choosing COLA would not be in our best interests because it has no impact on our pensions or overall earnings, Mr. Ansah said in a statement to the media.
The pursuit of just pay for our legitimate work is our top goal. Additionally, the government should protect our national minimum wage from any unfavorable effects if it involves the IMF.
Separately, Organized Labor has advocated for the reinstatement of fired local union executives from the Ghana Mineworkers Union of TUC, rejecting a monetary settlement offer from Sunon Asogli Power Limited.
Organized Labor is firm in their demand for the reinstatement of the union leaders notwithstanding Sunon Asogli’s offer to pay GH1.2 million in compensation. As Mr. Ansah made clear, “We are not seeking to monetize our rights; our struggle revolves around upholding the fundamental principles of workers.”
Mr. Ansah expressed displeasure with Sunon Asogli’s choice to not restore the union leaders and called the company’s position “misguided.”
He proclaimed, “We firmly believe that the termination of these leaders was unjust, and we strongly advocate for their reinstatement.”
Mr. Ansah emphasized that until a just conclusion is found, Organized Labour will continue to pursue the reinstatement of the union leaders.
This demonstrates how committed the labor movement is to protecting workers’ rights and guaranteeing fairness in their interactions with bosses.