GTMC management to lay off 762 workers

The Ghana Textiles and Manufacturing Company (GTMC) management is to lay off about 762 workers as soon as money is found for their severance pay.

The company would retain 365 workers to work at the printing department, while weaving and spinning sections of the factory would close down temporary.

This is the outcome of a committee meeting held by the representatives of the management, Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) and the Textiles, Garment and Leather Union (TEGLU) and chaired by an official of the Ministry of Manpower and Development.

A source close to the Ministry told the Ghana News Agency that the severance pay package is being worked out for the workers, who would be sent home. When payment is effected the company, which was closed down about seven months ago, would be reopened.

Following several years of court cases and physical clashes between ICU and TEGLU over which of the two unions should meet management on salary negotiations, even though TEGLU is holding the bargaining certificate, the company has never known peace at the factory floor.

Issues heightened when the two groups clashed, on November 28, last year, and the management closed down the factory. All the workers were sent home and have never been made to report back.

Political manoeuvres made by workers' leaders to force management to open the factory have not yielded any good results.

Efforts of the management to call some of the workers at different times to resume work were also frustrated by the ICU workers.