Organised Labour has affirmed its commitment to a nationwide strike on Thursday, October 10, 2024, citing the government’s failure to adequately tackle illegal mining, commonly known as “galamsey.”
Despite President Akufo-Addo’s pledge to address the issue, the group expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed measures.
In recent months, Organised Labour has urged the president to declare a state of emergency on illegal mining and to establish long-term solutions to curb the destruction of the environment and water bodies. However, the union feels their demands have not been met.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, October 7, Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Joshua Ansah, confirmed the union’s determination to proceed with the strike unless significant steps are taken before the deadline.
“We have concluded as follows: our strike remains unchanged,” Ansah stated firmly. “We believe the government’s proposed solutions are insufficient in addressing our concerns, and therefore our notice of strike stands.”
However, there is internal discord within Organised Labour, with some members feeling left out of the decision-making process. Representatives from the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG) and other factions have expressed their displeasure, claiming they were not consulted before the strike was announced.
A group identifying themselves as “Concerned Members of Organised Labour” has voiced concerns about the communication of the strike decision. Although they agree with the fight against galamsey, they believe the leadership’s approach in declaring the strike was inappropriate. They are calling for further dialogue between Organised Labour’s leadership and the government before resorting to industrial action.
Dr. Solomon Fokuo, a TUTAG member, shared his thoughts with journalists in Kumasi, stressing that the union’s leadership could have handled the situation better had they shown more commitment to the welfare of their members.
“We all stand against galamsey. We oppose those destroying our water bodies and the environment, and we call on the government to use legal means to halt it and protect the environment. But the main concern is what Organised Labour is focused on.
“They have declared a strike for October 10, but we were not consulted or involved in the process. We have no knowledge of the actions they’ve taken. If they had used the same energy in advocating for our welfare, things might have been different,” Dr. Fokuo remarked.
The disagreement within Organised Labour raises questions about unity as they prepare for the nationwide strike, which is expected to send a strong message to the government regarding both the galamsey issue and worker concerns.