The Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) has stated its decision to support a protest by Organised Labour against the introduction of a 15 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on electricity consumers above lifeline consumption is driven by the need to amplify their voices concerning the concerns of the general public and not necessarily for its members.
Organised Labour of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) is up in arms over the introduction of the new tax policy by the government as part of the conditionalities set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to mobilize revenue and close fiscal gaps post-COVID-19.
Speaking exclusively to Citi News, the General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU), Morgan Ayawine, explained that they will not relent on their demands to have the controversial tax completely withdrawn.
“We are not greedy and selfish leaders; we are not looking at the parochial interests of our members. We have come together as organised labour to fight for Ghanaians; we are not limiting this to the interest of ICU members. It is important for us to champion this action to salvage Ghanaians from the economic doldrums,” he emphasized.
Despite media reports of a purported withdrawal of the tax, the union said it will proceed with its planned protest until the withdrawal is officially communicated to them by the government.
“We are going to continue with our intended demonstration unless the government does the needful, and the needful is for the government to write a letter to organised labour about the withdrawal,” he insisted.
Members of the labour unions have turned red this week as a build-up to their planned nationwide demonstration scheduled for Tuesday, February 13, 2024.
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