Local unions who are unable to contest for national executive positions in the Union of Industry Commerce & Finance Workers (UNICOF) due to the smaller numbers are calling for electoral reforms in the Union.
They believe such reforms would create equal opportunity for all local union executives to contest for national positions.
Mr. Robert Aryee, UNICOF’s Local Union Chairman at Barclays Bank, who raised the concerns of the local unions, described the current electoral structure as “unfair.”
Per the guidelines for national elections, executives of local unions that have a membership below a given threshold cannot contest for national elections.
But in his solidarity message at the 3rd joint quadrennial Stanchart PMSU/UNICOF delegates’ conference in Accra at the weekend, Mr. Aryee said the rules have to be reviewed.
“The way it is, some of us can never vie for national positions,” he said.
He said the need for electoral reforms was critical because there were equally talented members in local unions with a smaller membership who could contribute significantly at the national level when given the opportunity.
Responding to the call for reforms, John Senanu Amegashie, General Secretary of UNICOF, shared in the concern.
He, however, gave the assurance that some reforms have been initiated to address the concerns.
According to him, the issue was raised at the last National Delegates Congress, following which the Congress agreed to review the electoral rules to be open for all local union executives without compromising on the objective of the rule.
Mr.Osei Amoako, local PMSU chairman at GCB Bank, urged UNICOF for the move but urged the national executive to do more in identifying and grooming people for leadership.
He also called on the management of institutions to consider employing union leaders into key positions which will enable the push for increased productivity.
The theme of the conference was, “Unionism in the contemporary workplace: prospects and challenges.”
By Nii Adotey/adrdaily.com
