July 20, 2017
The Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC) has charged leaders of its affiliates and local unions to avoid partisan politics and rather strive to protect the interest of workers.
“The TUC will not tolerate leaders who engage in partisan politics. We will certainly sanction and evict leaders from their posts when found in such activities,” said TUC Secretary General, Dr Anthony Yaw Baah.
According to him, the constitution of the Union prohibits all leaders of affiliate unions from engaging in political party activities, saying “we are political parties, but we should not be partisan.”
Such practice, he explained, has to be avoided because it often creates disunity within unions, and compromises the integrity of the leaders.
Dr Baah gave the charge at the induction of four new associations as affiliates of the TUC.
The new members are the United Spare Parts Merchants (USPM), Aluminum Fabricators Association of Ghana (ALUFAG), Cocoa Research Institute Workers’ Union (CRIWU) and General Construction Manufacturing and Quarries Workers Union (GCMQWU).
Dr Baah, however, noted that the Union would not prevent its members from joining political parties of their choice, but the regulations of the Union abhor partisan politics by members.
He urged the leadership of the new entrants to refrain from partisan politics so as to adequately protect the interest of their members.
The Secretary-General reaffirmed the Union’s commitment towards protecting the interests of its members, saying that “we urge all workers to form unions and be incorporated into the TUC to guard against all forms of discriminations and other anomalies they usually face at their work places.”
He said the TUC was committed to building the capacities of its members through periodic training to make them more efficient at their work places.
After their inauguration, Mr Gabriel Sarpong, General Secretary of the USPM expressed confidence in the TUC, saying that the USPM would endeavour to adhere to all the rules and regulations governing the Union.
“We are resolute to ensure that all our actions and business operations are in line with the professional ethics governing our membership,” Mr Sarpong assured.
Mr George Ohene Nkansah, General Secretary of CRIWU, thanked the TUC re-admitting the CRIWU, explaining that the CRIWU had earlier denounced its membership with the TUC due to some leadership issues the association faced.
But, the breakaway, Mr Nkansah said, was unproductive for the CRIWU as the union believed in being a member of the TUC would accelerate its progress.
He, therefore, noted that the comeback was crucial as government usually dealt with the smaller unions through the TUC.
“We see it as a privilege to be accepted back into the Union because there is strength in unity,” he added.
Mr Edward Nyarko, a member of ALUFAG, said joining the TUC gave them the confidence that they had a strong backbone now to push their agenda towards establishing partnerships with foreign firms.
By ADR Daily Newsdesk
