Tema, Sept. 1, GNA - The Tema District Council of Labour (TDCL) has called on Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, Minister of Energy, to publicly comment on the Tema Oil Refinery's (TOR) redundancy issue.

The council wants the Minister "to come out clearly on the redundancy rumour to set the hearts of our dear workers at peace". The call was made in a protest letter addressed to Dr Oteng-Adjei dated August 27, 2009 and signed by Mr Wilson Agana and Mr Ebenezer Kodwo Taylor, the Council's Chairman and Secretary respectively. In the protest letter the TDCL further called on the Minister to immediately act for the restoration of the dignity of the Ghanaian worker and to also ensure that the country's policy on decent work was followed by all.

The council noted that the executive meeting held with the executives of the local union and PMSU of TOR on August 24 this year was surprised to learn that while the Standing Joint Negotiation of the company was at a standstill, hospital bills were in arrears. TDCL letter also urged the Energy Ministry to act expeditiously to purchase crude oil for the refinery to save it from collapsing. The Council stated that it has noted with concern the inability of government to purchase crude oil for TOR to process since April when maintenance of the refinery's two plants was completed. It, therefore, appealed to the Minister to act swiftly on the worsening living condition of the unionized workers of TOR to ensure a peaceful industrial working relation at the refinery.

"The Council believes that after such an extensive shutdown maintenance exercise, it is not economical to leave the plants standing idle while the plants could be making profits if they were running". It added that "We understand for example that the recent shortages of premix, LPG, black oil and other finished products could have been averted if the refinery were running".