General News of Monday, 16 November 2009

Source: GNA

Labour urges government to implement Single Spine Salary

Koforidua, Nov 16, GNA - The Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has urged the government to ensure that the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) becomes a reality in January next year. Mr A. T Okine, General Secretary of the PSWU, said conditions of the road map such as the issuance of white paper on the policy had not been met as at now, adding that organized labour would not tolerate any attempt to delay the implementation of the SSSS.

He said workers' salaries were very low and that the implementation of the SSSS was very critical in boosting productivity. Making the call at the Eastern Regional Conference of the Women's Committee of the PSWU in Koforidua, Mr Okine urged the women to be interested in labour issues since its success affected all workers irrespective of sex.

The Regional Industrial Relations Officer (IRO), Mr Joseph Kyeremeh, said women constituted a large number of the PSWU population and urged the women's committee to ensure an active participation and representation on the labour front.

He called on the women to take advantage of the many workshops and other capacity building programmes to upgrade themselves to be capable of holding responsible positions at their workplaces. Ms Francisca Bortey, the Regional Secretary of the (TUC), told the women "to stop being their own enemies by gossiping and use their time profitably". The conference elected Ms Mary Vittor, Margaret Darko and Vivian Mantey as chairperson, vice- chairperson and secretary respectively to steer the affairs of the Women's committee for the next four years.