'GPRTU not part of drivers’ strike'

The leadership of the Ghana Private Roads Transport Union (GPRTU) has said it has not sanctioned any move by some of its drivers to stay away from work Monday February 8, 2016 as some disgruntled public transport operators have threatened to do.

On Tuesday February 2, a section of drivers belonging to the GPRTU and the Ghana Roads Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) called a press conference to announce their decision to strike following a 500% hike in insurance premiums by the National Insurance Commission (NIC).

But speaking with Accra News Tuesday, GPRTU vice president Robert Sarbah distanced the Union from the intended action. He said the GPRTU had yet to meet the NIC on the matter, and could, therefore, not be involved in Monday’s strike.

“Our position is that we will start negotiations with the Insurance Commission that we don’t agree with their proposal. But we do not form part of those, who say they are proceeding on an immediate strike,” Mr Sarbah explained.

“We have our own way of handling issues. How do we straightway go on a strike when we have not sat down with the other party? True, the increment affects us all, but going on strike is not the first thing to do. What we will first do will be negotiation. [it is] when negotiations fail before you advise yourself on what to do; but we are part of any strike.”

He sThe leadership of the Ghana Private Roads Transport Union (GPRTU) has said it has not sanctioned any move by some of its drivers to stay away from work Monday February 8, 2016 as some disgruntled public transport operators have threatened to do.

On Tuesday February 2, a section of drivers belonging to the GPRTU and the Ghana Roads Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) called a press conference to announce their decision to strike following a 500% hike in insurance premiums by the National Insurance Commission (NIC).

But speaking with Accra News Tuesday, GPRTU vice president Robert Sarbah distanced the Union from the intended action. He said the GPRTU had yet to meet the NIC on the matter, and could, therefore, not be involved in Monday’s strike.

“Our position is that we will start negotiations with the Insurance Commission that we don’t agree with their proposal. But we do not form part of those, who say they are proceeding on an immediate strike,” Mr Sarbah explained. The leadership of the Ghana Private Roads Transport Union (GPRTU) has said it has not sanctioned any move by some of its drivers to stay away from work Monday February 8, 2016 as some disgruntled public transport operators have threatened to do.

On Tuesday February 2, a section of drivers belonging to the GPRTU and the Ghana Roads Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) called a press conference to announce their decision to strike following a 500% hike in insurance premiums by the National Insurance Commission (NIC).

But speaking with Accra News Tuesday, GPRTU vice president Robert Sarbah distanced the Union from the intended action. He said the GPRTU had yet to meet the NIC on the matter, and could, therefore, not be involved in Monday’s strike.

“Our position is that we will start negotiations with the Insurance Commission that we don’t agree with their proposal. But we do not form part of those, who say they are proceeding on an immediate strike,” Mr Sarbah explained.

“We have our own way of handling issues. How do we straightway go on a strike when we have not sat down with the other party? True, the increment affects us all, but going on strike is not the first thing to do. What we will first do will be negotiation. [it is] when negotiations fail before you advise yourself on what to do; but we are part of any strike.”

He said the Union will meet the NIC in a week’s time “to see how that problem can be solved”.

“We have our own way of handling issues. How do we straightway go on a strike when we have not sat down with the other party? True, the increment affects us all, but going on strike is not the first thing to do. What we will first do will be negotiation. [it is] when negotiations fail before you advise yourself on what to do; but we are part of any strike.”

He said the Union will meet the NIC in a week’s time “to see how that problem can be solved”.

aid the Union will meet the NIC in a week’s time “to see how that problem can be solved”.