allAfrica.com: Ghana: May Day Celebrations From the Regions (Page 1 of 3)

THE ASHANTI Regional Secretary of the Trade Union Congress of Ghana (TUC), Mr. Robert Atonga Asekabta, has asked workers in the country to allow the historic resistance against forced work, by their forebearers, to inspire them to work hard in their various enterprises, and work places.

According to him, this would insulate workers from dominance by employers, since both are there to complement each other's efforts. "One cannot do without the other," he stressed.

Speaking at a parade to mark the May Day celebration in Kumasi, the TUC Regional Secretary said, without hard work there would not be any employable jobs for workers, and managements on the other hand, would also have no profits from their investments.

The May Day celebration was in commemoration of the fight, which sought to relieve workers of forced work, for unimaginable long hours, under dangerous conditions.

It happened in Chicago in April 1886, when about 250,000 workers signed up for the "May Day Movement," to fight for eight hours, which presently constitute the legitimate and legal work period for a day.

Mr. Asekabta continued that workers needed to improve their public image, which, he noted, was seriously being undermined, indicating that such an improvement would automatically reverse the trend, and give back to them recognition for the value of their work.

According to him, although the country's economy was said to be stable, most workers still found it difficult to get three-square meals a day, pointing to the current price increases of staple foods.

"We would like to bring to the notice of government that workers are demanding for fair pay. There must be a lasting solution to the salary problems, if government will no longer want to condone with embarrassment caused by rampant strikes," he stated, and reminded government that fair pay, also leads to the reduction of corruption in the public sector.

"We have not heard much from the Fair Salary and Wages Commission. Where are they, and what have they done so far?" he quizzed and continued, "We are simply not asking for fair pay, but Organized Labour shall cooperate with government, in whatever way, to improve productivity and effectiveness, by implementing the single-spine compensation salary structure now."

The TUC Regional Boss marked out housing, as one of the numerous problems facing workers in the country, and the Ashanti Region in particular.

"Our landlords burden us with heavy rents, sometimes they demand for more than our monthly salaries as advances, and eject us at will, without any person raising a finger."

The Regional Minister, Mr. Emmanuel Kofi Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, read President Kufuor's address to the gathering, which mainly centred on the deepening of democracy, and the commitmentof his government, to solve the salary problem of workers across the country, especially the railway workers.

The Kumasi May Day celebration was marked with a colourful procession of placard wielding workers, backed by brass-band music, from the Central Post Office at Adum, to the Golden Jubilee Park at Fante-Newtown.

Some of them read: "Too much bill for utilities; rents are too high; we are tired of NPP promises; 'Oga de chop am funya-funya' and "a hungry man is an angry man."

Irate workers of the Ghana Railway Company expressed their anger, and dissatisfaction, with the manner government was handling the sector.

Singing of patriotic songs marks day at Ho SamuelAgbewodereports from the Volta Regional capital, Ho, that the various workers unions in the region, marched through the principal streets of Ho, singing patrioticsongs to mark the day, and later converged at the Jubilee Park, where the Volta Regional Minister, Mr. Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, and Regional Trade Union Congress Secretary, addressed them.

The workers groups, which included the Public Workers Union, Public Utility Workers Union, Industrial and Commercial Workers Union, Civil Servants Association among others, carried placards, some of which read "President Kufuor do something before you go", "Our living conditions: the value is the same" and "Single-spine salary structure must be fair and equitable."

Mr. Samuel Kofi Dzamesi commended the workers for their hard work, and dedication to duty, which, he noted, contributed immensely towards the level of the socio economic development of the country, and stressed the need for workers to work hard for the development of the country.

Mr. Dzamesi said the government was doing much, to improve on the living conditions of the people, but due to the global trend in the increases in fuel prices, such efforts were not being realized, stressing that the government would continue to adopt prudent measures, to ensure that life became comfortable for the people.

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