The legal battle between the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union (GMWU) and Goldfields Ghana Limited over the latter’s planned redundancy exercise in which over 2000 mineworkers are expected to lose their jobs, may head for mediation.
This is because the GMWU is prepared to have the case settled through mediation for the interest of the hundreds of workers if Goldfields also shows its preparedness for any Appropriate Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms.
Mr Abdul Moomin Gbana, General Secretary for the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union (GMWU) told ADR Daily in an interview that as much as the Union wants an amicable resolution of the matter, they initiated the court action to halt the redundancy exercise.
“ADR was considered but due to the nature of the case and the time frame we decided to go with the court.
“We looked at mediation, negotiation and arbitration all of which are beneficial but because of the time frame we went with litigation,” he added.
According to Mr Gbana, although “mediation is an effective dispute resolution mechanism, we sought to get an injunction on the dismissal of the Goldfields workers that is why we chose litigation.”
Mr Gbana told ADR Daily that the GMWU is open to ADR and would warmly welcome the option, explaining that ADR is based on mutual agreement.
“If Goldfields is open for it, we as GMWU would gladly come together on equal grounds and resolve this dispute.
“GMWU is not opposed to ADR, and we have never been. If Goldfields wish to opt for mediation or any ADR mechanism, we would gladly go for it,” he added.
The Ghana Mineworkers’ Union sued Goldfields Ghana Limited in December last year, challenging the mining giant’s planned redundancy exercise as a result of a contract mining business model it had adopted which required that hundreds of workers had to be laid off.
Hearing for the case was adjourned on January 10 to February 8 to allow the Attorney-General who is the second defendant to be properly served and prepare for a hearing.
By: Fred Gadese-Mensah/adrdaily.com
