ICU members defy executives' call not to demonstrate

Accra, (Greater Accra) 21 July '99,

Hundreds of workers of the Greater Accra branch of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) of the Trades Union Congress on Tuesday defied advice by the national executive to defer their planned demonstration.

The angry placard-bearing workers ignored the advice given by Mr Napoleon Kpoh, General Secretary of ICU, who told them that majority of the grievances of the workers had been met by the National Tripartite Committee.

Some of the placards read "We want investors and not shooters", "Deport Hijazi", "We Want Better Pay", "Workers Rights are human rights", "TUC try to advise them", "Sintex workers are suffering", "Rawlings arise" and "Autin Gamey is a liar".

The workers also carried a miniature coffin with the inscriptions R.I.P Hijazi and the names J. J. Rawlings and Austin Gamey at the sides.

Mr Kpoh told the demonstrators that the arrest of Mr Mohamed Hijazi, Managing Director of African Automobile Limited (AAL) and International Automobile Limited vindicates the ICU. Mr Hijazi is alleged to have pulled a pistol on his workers on two occasions during a misunderstanding.

There is also a directive for full scale investigations into the alleged brutality and criminal acts at AAL and an agreement on the issuance of certificate for the ICU to represent workers of Wire Weaving Industries who have opted to join ICU.

Mr Kpoh said the ICU is call for a solution to the mass dismissals at AAL and unionisation problems at Akosombo Textiles limited.

At this stage the workers shouted "no, no, no, ..." amidst dancing and chanting of patriotic songs.

Mr Kpoh expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as the unfair manner in which the Ministry of mployment and Social handles issues involving ICU member organisations.

He said the ICU would no longer sit down for the rights of workers to be trampled upon by the government, employers and individuals.

The ICU boss said although the union does not encourage violence, the proper procedures must be followed when dismissing workers adding that Ghana has good employers and the ICU will co-operate with them.

The leadership of the ICU would follow the trail of Mr Hijazi to ensure that the law takes its course.

After his speech, the workers marched to the office of the Regional Co-ordinating Council where they presented a five-point resolution to Mr Daniel Ohene Agyekum, Greater Accra regional Minister.

The resolution called for an unconditional reinstatement of the four dismissed local union executives of IKAM.

It demanded that an urgent action be taken to restore the confidence of workers in the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare and the Labour Department in their handling of labour issues, among others.

Mr Ohene Agyekum said the government is doing its best to ensure industrial peace to enhance productivity.

He said strikes and demonstration cost the nation a lot of money and appealed to the workers to go back to work.

Mr Ohene Agyekum assured them that appropriate measures would be taken on issues they raised.