We shall champion workers' cause-NUHEM

Tema, May 2, GNA - The National Union of Harbour Employees (NUHEM), on Saturday pledged its determination to champion the cause of members, to ensure better working conditions. Mr James Jimah Jebuni, General Secretary of the Union, in a speech to mark May Day celebrations in Tema, said NUHEM "shall equally hold sacred its bond to safeguarding the cause of the employer." He said it was regrettable that thousands of workers up there were being denied their basic rights to trade unionism by their employers who boldly and unashamedly used "every trick under the sun, including gun boat diplomacy, to coerce union and block this freedom." Others, he said, even arrogated to themselves the right to determine which union their employees should join, which in his view, contravened the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).

Members of the Union carrying placards went on a float through the central parts of the Metropolis, after which they converged at the Twedaase Basic School to be addressed by their General Secretary. Some of the inscriptions on the placards were: "Contract Labour is not good;" "Is the Labour Law working?" "We can't pay our children's school fees;" and "Conditions of a Contract Worker must be reviewed." Mr Jebuni saluted the hardworking workers of the country, but underscored the need for them to enjoy the freedom of unionization. "On this occasion, we want to say it loud and clear that trade unionism is not a taboo in Ghana, and workers must stand up and fight for their rights," he said, adding: "After all, in the history of mankind, no right was ever granted on a silver platter and that is why May Day is celebrated the world over to honour the martyrs of labour." Mr Jebuni used the occasion to appeal to government to amend the Labour Act, to allow neutral people to compose the membership of the National Labour Commission.

He said: "As it stands now, the Commission is a replica of the Tripartite Committee, and is not the best, because justice and the law should not be based on compromises, but on truth." 2 May 10