General News of Wednesday, 1 May 2019
Source: www.ghanaweb.live
2019-05-01May Day: 35 labour unions storm independence square with placards
play videoWorkers embarked on a procession from Obra Spot to the Black Star Square to mark this year's event
Personnel from 35 organised labour unions met in Kwame Nkrumah Circle today May 1, to embark on a procession to the Black Star Square, where this year’s Labour Day was marked.
Participants trekked from Circle through Farrar Avenue, the TUC Headquarters traffic lights, towards the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) and then to the Black Star Square.
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Both public and private sector workers including the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Ghana Medical Association (GMA), the Ghana Federation of Labour, Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA), Local Government Workers Union, Ghana Mine Workers Union, the Ghana Private Roads Transport Union (GPRTU), the Amalgamated Pensions and so on participated in the walk.
Vice Chairman of the National May Day Planning Committee, Susie Afua Adoboe, said in an interview with www.ghanaweb.com that the procession is aimed at creating awareness on the issue of pensions by carrying placards and banners on the streets to express their grievances.
She wondered what SSNIT contributions of workers are used for, since they do not receive their lump sum benefits when they retire.
Ms Adoboe explained that the unions had persistently complained to government concerning the ‘very little’ amount public workers receive upon retirement without any result.
She reiterated that very little efforts were made following appeals to the government to address this particular concern of the unions hence their decision to embark on a peaceful walk.
“We have decided as workers to pay more attention to our pension. We have noticed as organised labour that most of our workers when they retire, they get something meagre and its worrying. You spend most of your life at work, you retire at 60 and go home only to know that some people are taking 200 cedis. How can that sustain you? You will be paying bills and if your children don’t support you how will you survive?” she stated.
