A labour expert, Senyo Adjabeng, has stated that Organised Labour cannot back down on their planned strike action in protest against illegal mining (galamsey) if the demands are not met.
According to him, Organised Labour is a structured institution, which is why they are usually slow to declare a strike, as the process is extensive. Consequently, retracting a strike action becomes more difficult than the declaration itself.
“So currently what is going on is a number of consultations leading to a possible actuarial strike action that has been declared. So it cannot be ruled out, it cannot be stopped, it has gained momentum,” he said on Top Story on Friday, October 4.
His comments followed a meeting between the government and Organised Labour on Thursday, October 3, during which the government expressed its commitment to addressing the group’s demands, which include declaring a state of emergency, revoking L.I. 2462, and deploying the military to forest areas and water bodies to combat illegal mining.
According to the Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour, Kenneth Koomson, President Akufo-Addo pleaded with Organised Labour to call off their intended strike.
He noted that the president expressed his discomfort with the timing of the strike and urged the labour to reconsider the decision.
In light of this, Mr Adjabeng said that Organised Labour is backed by a variety of forces beyond the collective unions involved, making it unlikely that the strike will be called off.
He stated; “So this is actually bigger than Organised Labour except they are leading it. So it cannot be ruled out at all.”
He further noted that discussions between the government and Organised Labour will continue up until the moment of the strike action takes place.
Responding to suggestions that the government might be trying to undermine Organised Labour’s unity to prevent the strike, Mr Adjabeng said he does not believe the government would deliberately take such a step.
He explained that, “Assuming that is what they want to do and the other party finds out, then it’s going to worsen the situation.”
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