Some government workers in the Tamale Metropolis have hit the streets in protest of the 4 and 7 percent increment of wages for 2021 and 2022.
The peaceful match which started at the Jubilee Park saw the protestors match through the major streets in the Metropolis carrying placards which some read ‘Mr president, fix the salaried worker’, ‘we cannot survive with 4% and 7%’, ‘article 71 holders are very wicked group’, among others.
Speaking after the match Executive Secretary of the Coalition Against TUC and Organised Labour, Azubila Abdul Salam Emmanuel wondered how the leadership of organised labour would accept increments of salaries without knowing the financial projects of 2022.
He said the increment of the 2020 salary is not just a killer increment but an insult to the Ghanaian worker.
He said the leadership of the union failed them because they were in for their own interest and not for the interest of the workers.
“As workers of this country who are working and to make sure that our country moves forward, we contribute money every month to our union leaders, make sure that they go and sit at the tier party committee and speak our language. Unfortunately, they went and negotiated into their pocket instead of ours,” he said
He expressed disappointment at the reason given by the TUC.
Mr Emmanuel said government cannot increase article 71 holders and yet tell workers the country is not in normal times therefore they cannot increase beyond what they have offered.
“I believe leadership by example if government thinks that we are not in normal times then they could have cancelled article 71 officeholders salaries increment for 2021 but we saw that the president said he refunded his salary what we are saying is that it’s a kneejerk reaction,” he added.
Mr Emmanuel said prices of goods and services continue to increase each day making it difficult for workers to survive.
He gave an ultimatum of fourteen days for the leadership to return to the negotiations table or face the collapse of the various unions.
Director of Operations for the Coalition Against TUC, Adam Mumuni has cautioned the leadership of the Workers Union that they will not relent in their fight against them so long as they keep negotiating into their pockets instead of the interest of the Ghanaian worker.
Source:Fiilafmonline/JoyNews
