The Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour, Abraham Koomson, has urged the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to adopt a more proactive approach to engaging organised labour to prevent frequent industrial disputes.
According to him, although strike action remains a powerful tool available to workers to press for their demands, many labour disputes can be prevented through early engagement, effective communication and continuous dialogue with union leaders.
Speaking on Ahotor 92.3 FM’s morning show programme, Adekyee Mu Nsem, with Citizen Kofi Owusu, Mr Koomson said government should not wait until workers are preparing to embark on strike before engaging organised labour.
He said the government inherited significant challenges and should therefore have engaged labour leaders early enough to explain its plans and timelines regarding issues affecting workers.
“What I expected government to do is to be proactive in engaging the leaders of the unions. Why wait until teachers begin agitating or go on strike before you engage them. Government must engage organised labour early and continuously to address their concerns and resolve industrial disputes before they escalate,” he said.
Mr Koomson noted that issues such as promotions, examinations, allowances and other conditions of service often have timelines and should be addressed well in advance to prevent them from escalating into industrial disputes.
He explained that when government communicates its plans clearly to union leaders, the leaders can in turn engage their members and help manage expectations.
“If you have plans to pay them this and that, because of this and that, talk to the leaders for them to also communicate,” he stressed.
He further likened the situation to a parent who makes promises to children but fails to explain when circumstances change, saying workers similarly need timely communication when government is unable to immediately fulfil particular commitments.
Mr Koomson said the communication gap between government and organised labour could create mistrust and eventually lead to strikes.
He therefore called for continuous and proactive engagement between government and labour unions, stressing that dialogue should begin long before disagreements develop into industrial action.
Story by Stephen Kwaku Owusu Mintah