The General Secretary of the Public Utility Workers Union (PUWU) Michael Adumattah Nyantakyi has taken a swipe at a former Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby over his comments that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) must consider sacking workers involved in recent agitations.
According to Mr. Nyantakyi, even though Dr. Wereko – Brobby has a right to express his opinion on the matter, PUWU takes it with a pinch of salt.
Speaking to Citi Business News, Mr. Nyantakyi maintained that the constitution grants workers the right to fight for their rights under such situations.
“Everybody is entitled to his opinion and Dr. Wereko-Brobby is expressing an opinion here so as for that one we will not be grudge him for that or go into any argument with him,” he said.
Dr. Wereko-Brobby earlier told Citi Business News the recent labour agitations in the power sector will affect Foreign Direct Investments into the country.
He argued that the growing labour unrest demonstrates the lack of discipline and respect for law in the country.
But Mr. Nyantakyi rebutted that the union has the right to demand for what they think will also help the company grow.
“Whether we don’t have the right to express our opinion or express out displeasure over something that is going on and is against us I don’t think I will take any judgment over what is fair or not because we also deserve the right to fight for what is within our right,” he said.
Labour agitations in power sector to affect FDIs
Dr. Wereko-Brobby told Citi Business News the recent labour agitations in the power sector will affect Foreign Direct Investments into the country.
He argues that the growing labour unrest demonstrates the lack of discipline and respect for law in the country.
“I do not know about the long term effect; all I know is that it is wrong, as it sends a wrong signal to anyone who wants to come to invest in the power sector or any other sector of the economy as there is no discipline among both workers and management,” he stated.
Workers of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) have embarked on a series of protests over possible job losses due to the ceding of part of management to a private entity.
The latest involved the two day sit down strike which ended Monday, September 5, 2016.
Though the ECG workers have been assured of job security at least within the first five years of the Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC) agreement, they are adamant that they will be eventually laid off with a new management.
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By: Norvan Acquah – Hayford/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana