Ghana Mineworkers’ Union threatens to withdraw members from mines

The Ghana Mineworkers’ Union (GMWU) has threatened to withdraw its members from the mines for fear of attacks and reprisals from illegal miners, following government’s withdrawal of state security personnel.

The Union is unhappy with the government’s unilateral decision to withdraw the military and other state security personnel from the mining concessions of major mining companies.

Government decided to provide security for the industry when it became the target for indiscriminate scramble by illegal miners aided by the Chinese and other Ghanaian collaborators.

“The least that the GMWU expected government to do was not to add to the already burdened industry to aggravate an already turbulent development in the mining sector,” said statement by General Secretary of the Union, Prince William Ankrah.

The mining industry is heavily challenged with the falling prices of gold and other metals on the international market, coupled with other internal hindrances culminating in the threat of over 4,000 mine workers likely to lose their job.

The GMWU believes government’s decision is untimely, unwelcome and would eventually be counter-productive.

 

“The Union, in our humble and considered opinion, would like to, on behalf of the over 20,000 members who are all employees of this subsector urge government to reconsider this policy decision,” the statement read.

The mineworkers are appealing to the government to allow the status-quo remain until such a time that the Chinese and  other foreign-led “galamsey” menace is eliminated or brought under control “because our intelligence indicates that the perpetrators are lurking around to strike again”.

This, the Union believes will safeguard the safety of mineworkers who continue to strive to work diligently to contribute their quota to the nation’s development.

“However, if government sticks to its guns and remains adamant, the Union may withdraw labour for fear of attacks and reprisals from the illegal miners on its cherished members,” the statement noted.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

Mineworkers accuse Israeli company of flouting Ghana’s labour law

The Ghana Mineworkers’ Union (GMWU) has accused an Israeli mining contracting firm, Pollution to Water (P2W), of flouting the country’s labour laws with impunity.

A statement by Eric K. Gyima, Deputy General Secretary of the Union, says the company has for a year now resisted attempts by its workers to unionise in line with provisions of the Labour Act 2003(Act 651).

“Workers of P2W have used legitimate means to unionise, but the management of that company has persistently and arrogantly put impediments in the efforts of the workers to exercise their fundamental right to unionize”, it said.

The company employs a technology that treats polluted water and recycles it back to the mines for mining operations. It currently has offices in Obuasi, Tarkwa and Bogoso.

“While the GMWU lauds P2W for introducing such an important technology into the mining sector, it does not mean that the management should disregard the country’s labour law which seeks to ensure that there is industrial harmony”, said the Union.

Mr. Gyima tells Luv News some workers have lost their jobs unfairly.

The GMWU is demanding that the relevant state institutions, including the Chief Labour Officer, the National Labour Commission and the National Security Council, to take decisive action in enforcing the provision of the labour law especially, those relating to unionization by Ghanaian workers particularly in the mining sector.

“The GMWU would like to indicate that the anti-union posture by the management of P2W has the potential to degenerate into an unpleasant labour agitation by the workers. This obviously will not auger well for an otherwise harmonious and stable industrial relations in the mining sector”.

The Union has indicated its readiness “to employ and deploy every means available including strikes actions to compel the company to respect the workers fundamental right to unionise”.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh