Pay mineworkers commensurate to their skills - GMWU

On the occasion of May Day, the leadership of Ghana Mineworkers’ Union (GMWU), is asking mining companies to reward workers with pay that reflect their skills on the job.

A statement signed by Mr. Prince William Ankrah, General Secretary of the GMWU said: “The Ghana Mineworkers’ Union leadership is urging the various companies operating in the mining industry not to take the present industrial peace and harmony for granted, but work towards ensuring that mineworkers are treated with the dignity they deserve.”

It said May Day is celebrated globally as worker's day of solidarity and the leadership of the GMWU, therefore, salutes mineworkers for their hard work, commitment and dedication, which had sustained the mining industry to date.

"The leadership of the Union wishes to assure mineworkers of its preparedness to constructively engage mining companies in the industry, to ensure that the remuneration matches up with their skills.

To this end, the leadership of Ghana Mineworkers’ Union calls for maximum support of mineworkers as it continues to pursue this agenda on their behalf,” the statement said.

It said although the fall in price of gold resulted in a considerable reduction in the number of mineworkers in the various mines, particularly the gold producers, the GMWU ensured that those companies complied with the various Collective Agreement provisions, particularly those that related to redundancy and severance compensation.

The leadership assured mineworkers that the union would deeply interrogate any future redundancy notice from mining companies to ensure that those companies do not hide behind gold prices to reduce numbers when there are major areas of waste which impacts hugely on cost.