Government has to be honest with everyone right now – Austin Gamey
Labour consultant, Austin Gamey has praised labour unions for often giving authorities a hint before embarking on any labour action.
Mr Gamey dissecting the issues on TV3 on 5th October 2022 said, “At least they have given the employer the opportunity as stakeholders because it is not their intention to rock the boat, particularly in the very difficult times Ghana finds itself and it is very reasonable the National Labour Commission has invited them for a meeting on the 12th October. Effectively, both parties would go there and share the necessary information and dialogue. As envisaged, the employer will have to up its channels of communication as it appears they are not open enough on why the labour unions despite their complaints have not gotten any written agreement from the employer so the invitation from the NLC will allow both parties to go the table and bring out their concerns and that will determine the future of both parties. I think that is what they want to do”.
Mr Gamey on balancing the current economic situation and the labour union demands added that “The employer has been allowed to also lay bare their concerns through the NLC who is an impartial third party on why they are not able to extend letters of invitation long ago to discuss the union concerns but all the same, I have a lot o confidence in the in the NLC to come to some agreement at the end of the day as they open up on what the true situation is and will support that the worker to be given what is due him”.
Tracing back to similar incidents in the past, he advised the government to take clues from 2015 when the previous administration expertly resolved such issues by telling the unions the true reflection of the situation the country found itself in and they[unions] finally agreed with the government.
Also, he expects the NLC to not take sides with anybody and also allow the labour unions to let go of what their concerns are despite the economic crunch.
“The lecturers are reasonable people, they understand the process and they can be relied upon by letting go of the true economic situation, they will understand. I have met them, Prof Nunuo and his team so it will be up to the employer if they did it that way we would have a solution. By now what I expect is for them to reach an agreement. Prof Nunoo and his people are reasonable people, if they open up on details of the situation to them I think they will take a look at their demands again.”
Mr Gamey was reacting to a planned decision by some labour unions to embark on industrial action to demand that government stays committed to the agreement it had with them concerning their conditions of service.
