PSWU elects Greater Accra Regional Council officers

Accra, Sept 8, GNA - The Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) on Wednesday elected a five-member Greater Accra Regional Council officers, with Sister Esther Agyeman-Asafo as Chairperson to steer the affairs of the Council for four years.

Other officers were Brother Christopher Larweh, First Vice Chairperson; Sister Evelyn Anabila, Second Vice Chairperson; Brother Dzidzor S. Mensah and Brother Ken Tweneboah-Koduah First and Second Trustees respectively.

The Deputy General Secretary of the PSWU, Brother Richard Amparbeng in an address appealed to the government through the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to make the 20 per cent base salary increase applicable to all subvented organisations irrespective of whether one had been migrated or not, to stem any industrial upheavals.

He said it was sad that Vice President John Dramani Mahama's target of migrating all listed public sector organisations onto the Single Spine Salary Structure by September, this year could not be achieved.

"And from the look of things, it appears we may not be able to achieve the target before the year runs out," he stressed.

Mr Amparbeng stated that the public sector held the key to dependable and sustainable development and called on the government and its partners to rather consider resourcing the public sector to expand the socio-economic development to curb the alarming incidence of youth unemployment.

The Deputy General Secretary said the National Union was alarmed by the over-reliance on the private sector in the quest for national development because for the past three decades the nation has embarked on privatisation of the public sector organisations for its developmental agenda.

Mr Amparbeng used the occasion to announce that the 8th Quadrennial Delegates Conference was scheduled to take place from December 11 to 14, 2011 at the Public Services Union Centre, Adiembra in Kumasi.

The theme chosen for the conference is, 93Enhancing Public Sector Productivity for Accelerated Socio-Economic Development: the Role of the Union."

He said the theme was mean to serve as a signal to participants to view the public sector as the main pivot of sustainable and reliable socio-economic development.

In her acceptance speech, Sister Agyeman-Asafo said the Union placed on officers the responsibility of ensuring that the Union remained vibrant and relevant so that they could manage to survive the numerous challenges ahead.

She said the labour front had become very challenging in recent times, especially with the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure and several calls for improved conditions of service, welfare programmes and other services from members of the Union.

Sister Agyeman-Asafo said there was therefore the need for a strong and vibrant Union to fight for the interests of workers.

"In the light of this, it is important for us to come up with programmes and activities that would ensure that our members are well acquainted with the basic tenets of Trade Unionism," she added.

A report presented by the Regional Industrial Relations Officer, Brother Bernard Adjei suggested that as matter of urgency, an educational seminar on the Union's Constitution be organized for the benefit of members.

They should also be provided with a computer, a printer and supporting staff to assist the Regional Industrial Relations Officer to facilitate the work of the Union in the Region.

He also called for budgetary allocation to the Regional Women's Committee to run programmes.