Galamsey Fight: Organized Labour’s Strike Collapses As Key Unions Withdraw
Plans by leadership of Organized Labour to embark on a nationwide strike beginning tomorrow against illegal mining is hanging by a thread following the withdrawal of key groups within the union.
Despite a meeting with President Akufo-Addo last week where the government assured of immediate measures to tackle the menace, Organized Labour announced on Monday that it would still go ahead with its intended strike action by all workers on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
However, the front of labour union has completely broken with a number of key unions within the group disagreeing with leadership of the union, insisting that refusing to work in service of Ghanaians is not the best solution to demanding action against illegal mining as is being pushed by the executives of Organized Labour.
So far influential unions with large membership across the country such as the Ghana Medical Association, Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, the Government and Hospital Pharmacist Association, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) as well as staff of the National Investment Bank among others have announced they won’t join the strike.
While these groups publicly admit that their solidarity with Organized Labour in demanding action against illegal mining, they however state unequivocally their unpreparedness to strike.
“The Ghana Medical Association has not declared a roadmap for an industrial action. Therefore, all members are expected to continue providing full services without interruption. The GMA, however, is in solidarity with the Organised Labour in this fight against galamsey”, a statement by the GMA said.
Nurses and midwives have also given similar notice with a statement which read; “The National Council of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) held an emergency meeting on 8th October, 2024 and wishes to state as follows: the GRNMA and it’s members will not embark on the strike action declared by Organised Labour and therefore, directs that all nurses and midwives stay at post and continuedelivering safe and quality health services to the good people of Ghana…The GRNMA solidarises with member Trade Unions and Associations and Organised Labour in the fight against galamsey menace in Ghana.”
The GPRTU, in a statement issued today, October 9, 2024, also decided not to be part of the strike.
“Having considered the irreparable adverse impact our participation in the strike action will have on commuters, we have decided against being part of the strike action slated on 10th October, 2024”, the GPRTU statement said.
In the banking sector, a leaked internal memo of the National Investment Bank to all staff on October 9, 2024, directs all staff to report to work as the bank won’t be joining the strike.
Hospital pharmacists, in a press statement, also announced they won’t be joining the strike.
With these mass withdrawals and many more including the Ghana National Association of Teachers expected to withdraw, the intended strike by Organized Labour has collapsed.
Sources within the leadership of Organized Labour indicate that their leadership is sharply divided.
While a good number prefer what has been described as “reasonable” processes other than striking and denying Ghanaians services, a few influential leading members are bent on pursuing the strike action at the expense of Ghanaians as they believe this will make government unpopular.
“We cannot seek to solve one social problem by creating more problems for citizens through this kind of industrial action”, a leading member who doesn’t support the strike said.
Source: Ghmessenger.com
