Tema, March 2, GNA - Workers of the Meridian Port Services at the Tema Port, on Monday embarked on a sit-down strike, to back their demand for better working conditions.

The workers, who carried placards and chanted war songs at the premises of the company, called on the Auditor-General to audit operations of company.

In a resolution made available to GNA in Tema, the workers complained about the indiscriminate manner in which management of the company approached issues concerning workers' salary.

They alleged that the human resource and assistant operations managers of the company were insensitive to their plight.

The workers further claimed that management showed gross disrespect for their human rights and did not undertake job evaluation to bridge the gap between sections and departments at the company. They alleged that there were no training programmes and skills-sharpening schemes and that transport allowance which was to be reviewed since October last year, was still "hanging." The workers complained about the non-payment of accident claims, night, risk, shift, utility and rent allowances.

They accused management of aberration of the company's collective bargaining agreement, which resulted in arbitrary dismissals of workers. The workers said they were prepared to talk to either the Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, or the sector Minister, for an amicable settlement of their grievances, on condition that the human resource and assistant operations managers were excused from the terminal.

When contacted on phone for his reaction to the workers' action, Mr. Mohammed Samara, Director of the company, told GNA that he was at a meeting. 2 March 10 Attention recipients, item 02 ends first cast.