Ghana Trades Union , Come again

What is your demonstration? Kojo Tamakloe

Brief History “The GTUC as a central co-ordinating body for 14 union groups in 1945. The unions were registered under the Trade Union Ordinance of 1941. In 1954, the union proposed that the local unions be amalgamated along industrial groupings to make the union strong. The proposal was approved in 1955.] The union had 24 member unions in 1958 and was regulated by the Industrial Relations Act 56. The first elections of the GTUC was held in 1966 after Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana was overthrown. The election was conducted to replace the union leaders who were under detention under the National Liberation Council. In 1971, the GTUC was dissolved as the sole trades union congress after parliament, led by the Busia government, passed Act 383. The Act was repealed by the I.K. Acheampong government in the same year. The union's executives were replaced in a "coup d'etat" in 1983 by an Interim Management Committee at the instance of the Association of Local Unions (ALU) of the Greater Accra Region.The union in 1984 held it national congress to restore it existence and restored its constitutionality”

Role of trades unions by James Williams, Demand Media
Trade or labor unions have been around since the 1930s to resist through equal bargaining power the domination of employers over employees and to represent workers’ interests in the employment relationship. It is through union efforts that workers benefit from better pay and working conditions, and that they are treated with dignity and respect at work. The importance of trade unions cannot be overstated even though membership has been on a steady decline
Labor unions check the unfair labor practices of employers. The NLRA declares that it is unlawful for employers to dominate a union, discriminate against workers engaged in union activity, victimize workers who file charges against them with the National Labor Relations Unions also play a key role in developing labor laws and regulations for effective worker protection. The unions initiate the push for regulation in areas that concern employees in the workplace. They lobby for the creation of laws and regulations and disseminate information to the employees about them

As seen the labor Unions exist to protect workers from the EMPLOYERS and to push for legislation that will protect the workers interest. The rise of capitalism or free enterprise that used “slave labor” by paying below standard living wages was what gave rise to the labor Unions. It was seen that as a “collective” they could stand up against the bullying tactics of the employers and the propertied class than as single persons Thus the workers Unions were in the vanguard of parties that supported socialism and so back parties like the democrats In the Usa and labor party in the UK, social democrats in Germany and others in France, Italy Spain, Greece. If workers were to read about the conditions of workers in the industrial era that were so poor that workers children could be eaten by rats from the Thames river and after industrial accidents the workers were left to cater for themselves .In Ghana the TUC was a big voice in the CPP government led by the “ Show Boy” and Africa’s man of the Millenium Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah and so was spared the harsh actions of the employers . The TUC in Ghana was very much persecuted under the NPP government led by Prof Busia . A lot of thanks goes to Gen I K Acheampong who repealed the Busia Act dissolving the TUC as it was and doing everything to whittle away their power s. No one then doubts the positive role Unions can play . In South Africa ,the COSATU was the vanguard of the opposition to apartheid .This is a brief history . “ COSATU was established on 1 December 1985 following four years of unity talks between competing unions and federations. Among the founding unions was the Federation of South African Trade Unions (FOSATU).At its launch it represented less than half a million workers organized in 33 unions, but saw rapid growth in its early years. Elijah Barayi was the organization’s first president and served until 1991. Other key leaders included Jay Naidoo and Cyril Ramaphosa. COSATU played a leading role in the struggle against apartheid, organizing a range of highly effective wage strikes and also general strikes and mobilizing support in factories and towns across the country. The most authoritative account of its early years is a book called Striking Back, written by a former COSATU leader Jeremy Baskin and covering the period from 1985 until the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990.Its members have grown to nearly 2 million” .Then when there was no real opposition and Blacks had no voice , COSATU filled that void . For those in the know , Mr Cyril Ramaphosa is the current Vice President in South Africa
The NPP in Ghana is similar to Union “killers”, like the Republican Party and the Conservative party in the UK . The NPP showed its disdain for the workers when Busia was in power . This is consistent with its ideology of serving the interests of the capitalist class . The current NPP has stated it is a “ property owning “ class or petty bourgeoisie. These are employers and have nothing in common with the working class . Mr Asamoah the current Secretary general was the assistant when President Kufour formed an alliance with them . But how can you and your master have common interests? That is the error of this TUC leadership. If they want to be in the political class they would do well to come out of the cover of workers representatives and join the political class . It would behoove all that the TUC reverts to its role of fighting for workers interests in the labor arena . It will be well to remind these misguided leaders that after the SSSS implementation , it is the same NPP and its members who have been calling for the retrenchment of workers to cut expenditure . Also it will be better for them to exhort the workers to improve productivity to grow the GDP . Let the TUC be reminded that politicians are like chameleons . The definition of a chameleon is an animal that is able to change its color . The interests of the NPP are not the same as those of the workers . Mr Asamoah should see this obvious fact . Demonstrating against the government which is an avowed social democracy as opposed to Labor Union “killers” should be seen as madness . The workers should be demonstrating against the so called African entrepreneurs who are not investing . How many Megawatts of energy have they added ? when will they form a Shipping line and replace the Airways . When will they put in investment to keep TOR alive and ensuring the security of these members? How will capital be available to reactivate VALCO . How will Ghana reactivate the red bricks factories to ensure the price of cement goes down as there will be cheaper alternatives in the building industry?. How will Ghana provide homes and cut down the short fall of nearly 2m homes that will make rents cheaper ? How will money be available so Ghana can produce the veggies they import and save money on fish, poultry and rice. How can we make capital available for Pawlugwu to be back on stream? How can Ghana regain ground lost on textile production and re employ the workers that have been retrenched ? How can we re activate the cotton farms that were shut down by the capitalist NPP and reduce Zongo communities ? Where can Ghana get investment to improve the Rail net work ? GTUC , you will be advised to think twice about your bedfellows

Forward ever , backward never

The writer Kojo Tamakloe is a Pan Africanist who believes a united Africa is the solution to its underdevelopment