Goaso (B/A), Dec. 22, GNA - About 205 dismissed workers of Mim Scanstyle Limited, a wood processing company in the Asunafo North Municipality, have petitioned President John Atta Mills over their wrongful dismissal by management of the company.

Management dismissed the workers following a five-day sit-down strike they embarked on to press for payment of their three months' salary arrears. In a petition signed by Mr Victor Owusu, Secretary, Mr Ampaabeng Kyeremeh, Chairman and Mr F. D. Okyere, Vice Chairman, the workers said they had not been paid their salaries regularly for four years.

They said between July and September 2008, the workers were not paid their salaries and that compounded an already volatile situation. The management drove the workers away from the premises of the company after all attempts to get their salaries failed.

The workers said management held a meeting with workers who were still at post on September 04 last year and announced to them the sale of the company.

The petition said the case was sent to the National Labour Commission which ruled in favour of the workers. The Commissioner ruled that the workers should be recalled but management refused to comply. The workers besieged the office of the Municipal Chief Executive on November 05 to register their displeasure about the delay in their re-instatement.

A demonstration was imminent but for the timely intervention of the MCE who advised them to exercise restraint while their grievances were addressed.

The petition said the workers gave notice to the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, stating they would advise themselves after the verdict of the Labour Commission had been ignored by the company. When contacted, the Administrative Manager of the company, Mr. Adjei Mensah, said the company was not in the position financially to pay them and this had caused delay in the payment of their salaries. He said the matter was in the hands of management and the National Labour Commission after the 205 workers refused to re-apply as mandated.