President Mills: Single Spine Salary will see light of day in July

Accra, May 1, GNA - The Single-Spine Salary Structure(SSSS) would be implemented at the end of July 2010, President John Evans Atta Mills told public sector workers at the May Day Parade held at the Independence Square, Accra on Saturday.

He said much progress had already been made through consultations between the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Unions and in addition the Government was giving maximum support to the FWSC to effectively manage the implementation process.

Addressing workers at this year's May Day Parade in Accra, President Mills commended organised labour for its cooperation with Government since it took over the reins of government in 2009. However, he appealed to the Leadership of workers unions and associations to be accommodating and to cooperate with the FWSC to build a lasting and forward-looking consensus on the new and improved pay structure.

This year's celebration is dedicated to the memory of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's First President, for his abiding faith and commitment to the working people of Ghana.

It is under the theme: "Consolidating Workers Solidarity and the Legacy of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah."

The workers mostly clad in white tee-shirts and jeans trousers carried placards some of which read: "No Politician Should Do Any Politricks with Our Money"; "National Health Insurance Scheme is Not Working"; "Higher Incomes Higher Productivity"; "Uncle Atta, Put Money in Workers Pockets Right Now" and "Mr. President, Chase the Textile Smugglers out of Town".

Others were: "Workers Need Upward Adjustment of Salary Now before Single Spine"; "Our Take Home Pay Cannot Take Us Home". Some workers from Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) wrote on their placards: "GNPC Killing TOR";"We Need Our Own Crude Oil" and "Free TOR from GNPC Now".

President Mills reiterated that continuous dialogue between Labour and Management, as well as Labour and Government, was crucial to creating and sustaining peaceful, harmonious and trustworthy industrial relations.

He said the Government, therefore, expected Organised Labour and Employers to use established institutions such as the National Labour Commission, Tripartite Committee and FWSC to resolve labour matters. President Mills said with the enactment of the Pensions Law, workers' benefits under the various tiers would be significantly enhanced, and reiterated that the Government was very much committed to making good its manifesto pledge of creating jobs for the scores of unemployed Ghanaians.

He said the Government had put in place measures to give the economy stable legs to operate on in order to promote the creation of employment opportunities in all sectors of the economy.

President Mills appealed to commercial banks to respond appropriately to the improvement in the macro-economy which the Government initiated last year with affordable credit to the private sector to expand; stimulate growth and provide lasting jobs. Referring to the inscriptions on the placards, President Mills said: "Fellow Workers, I have taken notice of the very interesting writings on your placards and you can rest assured that Government takes the hard-hitting ones in good faith, and it will do all it can to address those concerns that are dear to your heart".

President Mills gave the assurance to Ghanaian workers that Government would work assiduously to protect the rights and interests of workers to fully utilise their potentials to contribute to nation building.

On the recent unannounced visits to workplaces, President Mills explained that they were meant to encourage but not for retributive purposes and added, however, that the Government would ensure that the national growth agenda was not derailed.

While thanking Organised Labour for its appreciation of Government's efforts at addressing workers' issues, President Mills, reminded workers that the fight against corruption was not to please him per say, but it was incumbent on all Ghanaians to work consciously at building a Better Ghana.

President Mills paid tribute to Osagyefo The President for his dynamism on the organisation of the Labour Movement, and said: "I assure you that just as Dr Kwame Nkrumah respected and recognised the vital contribution of gallant workers in giving meaning to his development agenda, so shall this NDC Administration give more meaning to Government and Labour relationship as we stay committed to building a Better Ghana. "There are certainly brighter days ahead and all I ask of you is to support Government to build a Better Ghana," he said.

Mr Kofi Asamoah, Secretary General of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), said Trade Union solidarity was even more crucial in view of Ghana's new phase of emerging oil and gas industry. He drew attention to the developments at TOR and asked for the immediate intervention of President Mills to bring an end to what he called "the ongoing power play in the supply of crude oil and related factors to save TOR from collapse".

The Secretary General drew President Mills' attention to the disturbing spectacle of many companies that were directly or indirectly preventing their workers from joining or forming trade unions, especially, companies operated by foreign nationals.

Mr Asamoah warned labour consultants to stop polluting minds of workers that trade unions were no longer necessary, and emphasised that those so called experts could never replace trade unions. Professor Nii Noi Dowuona, Member of Kwame Nkrumah Centenary Planning Committee, read a solidarity message from the Committee, and saluted Ghanaian workers.

Prizes were given to distinguished workers, and the most prestigious award was given to Mr Justice Kobena Baah Ampiah, a Retired Supreme Court Judge.

The GTUC also presented a special prize to Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II; it was received on his behalf by Nana S. K. B. Asante, Asante Asokorehene.