Current economic condition require commitment- Mills

Kumasi, June 23, GNA- President John Atta Mills has said the current economic condition of the country require that workers display high level of commitment.

He has therefore urged them to appreciate the current predicament in the midst of the global financial crunch but expressed optimism the future would be bright despite such difficulties. The President said this in a speech read for him by Mr. Stephen Amoanor Kwao, Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, at the 50th Anniversary Celebration and the inauguration of the second phase of a hostel project for the Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) in Kumasi on Monday. The project, made up of 27 self-contained rooms estimated at two million Ghana cedis, include a 500 seating capacity auditorium, a mini-supermarket, a unisex salon and offices.

The theme for the occasion was "PSWU 50 years in the Service of Workers-The Way Forward".

President Atta-Mills said, his government was committed to the agreed road map for implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure and was of the view that all stakeholders involved would work hard towards the successful implementation to improve salaries of workers. On the New Pension Scheme for workers under the National Pension Act 766 of 2008, he said negotiations were also far advanced towards the implementation of the scheme to benefit workers.

He appealed to the union to deepen the existing dialogue and harmonize with other social partners to maintain a peaceful industrial atmosphere for accelerated national development.

Mr. Kofi Asamoah, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), said the ongoing Public Sector Reform was intended to address the challenges of low pay and the inequities inherent in the public sector pay.

He therefore urged the government to keep to the implementation schedules and the guiding principles and the road map it has agreed with unions and other stakeholders.

The General Secretary asked the government "not to see the patience of the Unions, which has contributed to the current industrial relations atmosphere as a sign of weakness, but rather a demonstration of good faith and our preparedness to co-operate with the government". Mr. Asamoah expressed concern about the recent increase of 30 per cent in fuel prices as compared to 18 per cent increase in wages and called on the government to increase the incomes of workers to enable them cope with the increasing higher cost of living.

Mr. A.T.D Okine, General Secretary of the PSWU, expressed gratitude and appreciation to the pioneering patriots, both living and dead for their good judgment and selflessness towards the formation of the union. He said there had been significant improvement in the conditions of workers of the various branches of the union and this had been made possible through the union's pro activeness and negotiations with government and management.

Ms. Georgina Owusu Amankwaa, National Chairperson of the Union, advised her colleagues to adopt effective and pragmatic measures to improve their performance in the years ahead.