TUC must be realistic - Adu-Amankwah.

Takoradi, July 20 -GNA - Mr. Kwesi Adu-Amankwah, Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has said the changing nature of labour relations in the country demands that the TUC should be realistic in the efforts to meet the aspirations of workers.

Mr. Adu-Amankwah was speaking at a day's workshop organised by the TUC for Union members at Takoradi on Wednesday.

It was on the theme: "Trade Unionism today, association and benefits." He noted that the TUC had made significant contributions towards the welfare of the Ghanaian Worker, including the adoption and use of Collective Bargaining Certificates (CBAs).

Others are the payment of end-of-service benefits, medical care and rest periods, and also made several contributions towards some policy formulation, while serving as the mouth piece of the worker. Mr. Adu-Amankwah said the TUC would be 60 years on September 8 this year and all Ghanaian workers, including all union leaders must critically assess the role of the union in a bid to find appropriate means to meet the demands of members.

He said though trade unions are voluntary organisations, it was in workers' interest to join to safeguard their well-being. "It would be dangerous for any Ghanaian worker to stay out of the TUC, since without it, such workers would become vulnerable to exploitation, discrimination and under payment among others."

Mr. Adu-Amankwah appealed to Ghanaian workers to exercise patience and allow the government to come out with the report on the "Pensions Committee".

He said the Tripartite Committee is working seriously to determine a living wage for Ghanaian workers, adding that the TUC and some of its social partners were also working to determine the calculation of the wage.

Mr. Adu-Amankwah however, assured workers that the payment of lump sums after ones pension would be rectified to enable more pensioner's feel comfortable after their active years in service.

Madam Josephine Abakah, Principal of the Ghana Labour College, who is in-charge of the Education and Training of the TUC said Trades Union activities in the Gold Coast was inaugurated in April 1945 at Sekondi. She urged union leaders in the locals, branches and divisions, to forge close relationships with their co-workers and assist them in all labour issues.

Madam Abakah said there was the need to re-activate study cycles and informal meetings to make members active. She said meetings of the various unions should not be dominated by speakers but should enable members and participants to ask questions and contribute towards the meeting.