Accra, Nov. 2, GNA - The National Labour Commission (NLC) on Wednesday denied media reports that claimed that workers of the Metro Mass Transport had sent their grievances to the Commission. A statement signed by Mr J. K. Bapuuroh, Acting Executive Secretary, urged media personnel to consider seeking clarification from the offices of the NLC or the Public Affairs Officer before publishing such stories.

The statement followed a report made on one of the FM stations indicating that the workers of Metro Mass Transport sent their grievances to the NLC for redress but the Commission could not assist them.

The Commission said neither the workers nor the Management of Metro Mass Transport notified them of a strike action. "It must be considered that industrial relations issues by their nature are sensitive and have social dimensions. Therefore, stakeholders including the media need to be circumspect in their discussions or reportage of such issues."

The statement said NLC on hearing of the strike action by the workers of Metro Mass Transport summoned the Management and striking workers represented by the General Transport Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union of TUC to the offices of the Commission on Tuesday November 1, 2005.

The meeting could not make any progress because both sides, the Management and Union, came with entrenched positions. "Whilst the Union was insisting that they did not want one of the Management's representative to be present at the meeting before proceedings could begin, management insisted that, it was their prerogative to bring whoever they thought fit to be on their team." The statement said the meeting could not proceed as the two sides would not change their entrenched positions after a long appeal and broke off on the note that the two sides should go back and re-consider their positions to enable the discussions to proceed.

It said the Commission did not hear from the two sides, till November 2 when they heard on air that they had gone to meet with the Ministry of Roads and Transport and that the Union had called off the strike action.

"It is, therefore, regrettable to hear on air that the NLC was unable to resolve the grievance of the MMT and so they went to the Ministry of Roads and Transport."

It urged the media to be properly informed by all sides to industrial disputes before making pronouncements or comments to avoid misrepresentations that could be inimical to the system.