Accra, April 26, GNA – The National Labour Commission has directed the unionised workers of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to withdraw their intended sit-down strike and follow due process in the resolution of their grievances.
The workers had indicated the strike was to back their demand for the removal of the Managing Director of the company, Mr Kwame Agyeman – Budu, but the Labour Commission has pointed out that the workers were not resorting to the appropriate procedure.
The intended strike was to start Monday, April 26, 2021 and was to last for two hours between 0800 hours and 1000 hours.
However, the Commission in a letter, dated April 26, 2021 which was copied to the Managing Director of the ECG, called on the chairmen of the senior staff union and the junior staff union of the Company to relook at the channels they were using to address their grievances.
“The Commission in exercise of its power under section 139, directs the workers to reverse the decision and channel their grievances to the Commission through the National Union to be properly placed before the Commission for redress”, said the letter signed by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Ofosu Asamoah.
It advised the national union to call for halt of the industrial action by the workers while it ensured the proper process was followed in the resolution of the workers’ grievances.
Meanwhile, ahead of the letter from the Labour Commission, some workers of the ECG who described themselves as “concerned workers of ECG” kicked against the intended strike action.
The concerned workers claim that the decision to embark on the industrial action was being pushed by some individuals for their selfish interest.
“We know of their plans to instigate workers to disrupt power supply. Currently, all our members are at post. We encourage all members to ignore the call to strike,” they said.
According to the concerned workers “just last week, our pay was increased by 10 per cent pending the final negotiations. Others whose promotions had been delayed for several years have been promoted recently by the management after just 14 months of our MD being in office.”
The concerned workers questioned why the union had called for a sit-down strike without notifying the management of the company and the National Labour Commission (NLC) in accordance with section 159 of the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651).
The Act, they pointed out, required the union to give the Labour Commission at least seven days’ notice before any strike.
According to the agitating workers, mainly from the junior and senior staff association, Mr Agyeman-Budu was “mismanaging” ECG, hence their call for his immediate removal.
In a press statement announcing their resolution, the workers accused the MD of breaching procurement processes, among other accusations.
The MD has, however, denied any wrongdoing.
Last year, The Business Executives, organisers of the Ghana Development Awards, awarded the Electricity Company of Ghana as the best company in the energy sector for contributing immensely to the growth and development of Ghana.
Also, the organisers honoured MrAgyeman-Budu, for his “exceptional leadership that has resulted in efficiency in the management of the power distribution company”.
Under his leadership, the organisers said the ECG deployed some innovations, including the internal development of ECG Power App, which had enabled electricity consumers to buy credit, using their Smart Meters at the comfort of their homes.
They also cited the replacement of non-Smart Meters to Smart Meters in ECG’s operations.
The Awards ceremony, which took place in Accra, was under the theme: ‘Intensifying The Implementation of SDGs for Ghana’s Socio-Economic Recovery Amidst Coronavirus.
It recognised individuals, public institutions, development partners and private enterprises that had contributed to Ghana’s socio-economic development in pivotal ways.
GNA