By Jesse Ampah Owusu, GNA
Accra, Oct. 26, GNA – The Public Services Workers’ Union (PSWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Ghana, has organised a training programme on Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) for representatives of its newly affiliated member organisations.
The training, sponsored by Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI), focused on the understanding, development and enforcement of CBAs, which serve as the legal framework for protecting workers’ rights, conditions of service and welfare within public sector institutions.
The newly integrated divisions comprise the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA), the Ghana Veterinary Medical Association, the Ghana Hydrological Authority and the Water Resources Commission.
Madam Genevieve Piesie Jemba, Gender and Youth Desk Officer of the PSWU, said it was important for the new divisions to be taken through the CBA process to enable them to effectively champion the interests of their members.
She explained that as divisional leaders, they would spearhead the development of CBAs for their respective organisations, making it necessary for them to acquire the requisite knowledge and skills in drafting and negotiating collective agreements with their employers.
Madam Jemba said the Union was also undertaking visits to its member organisations to engage them on their needs and challenges and explore ways of addressing them.
Mr John Doe, Administrative Secretary of the PSWU National Secretariat and facilitator of the training, said with the Union expanding its presence across state agencies, regulatory bodies and public corporations, it had become imperative for newly admitted divisions to understand the intricacies of labour negotiations.
He stressed that a well-informed local executive committee was key to promoting industrial harmony and productivity, and urged the new divisions to educate their members on their rights and responsibilities in the workplace.
Mr Doe said the next phase would involve working closely with the various divisions to develop CBAs that reflected the unique circumstances of their institutions.
He stated that after drafting the agreements, negotiations would be held with management to finalise and sign the documents, after which they would be made accessible to staff.
Mr Godson Simpri, Chairperson of the PSWU-GRDA Division, said the training had equipped participants with valuable knowledge that would strengthen their capacity to represent their colleagues and promote a fair working environment.
He reaffirmed the division’s commitment to collaborating with the leadership of the Union in developing a CBA for its members.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Jesse Ampah Owusu
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