Tema workers to hoist red flags and follow it with demonstration Tema

The Tema District Council of Labour (TDCL) is to go on a two-hour demonstration on Wednesday in Tema to draw the attention of the government to the impact of the high fuel prices on workers. The demonstration, to be preceded by the hoisting of red flags at all workplaces from Monday, will see the workers drive in a convoy to Accra. In Accra, the demonstrators will park their buses at the TUC Hall and walk to the Ministry of Manpower Development, Employment and Social Welfare to present their resolution to the Minister, Mrs Cecilia Bannerman.

The decision to hoist red flags and go on demonstration was taken at an emergency meeting on Thursday after the TUC Deputy Secretary-General (Operations) Mr Kofi Asamoah briefed them on the outcome of the Tripartite Committee meeting last Tuesday. The workers said: "we have started feeling the impact of the high fuel prices. We pay 100 percent increase in transport fares in Tema, while all items including foodstuffs have been increased. We cannot continue to wait, while the government and employers do not find answer to the level of wage increase."

''We are expecting another increase in utility tariffs in March to worsen our economic plight and that is why our demand for a minimum wage upgrading should be 100 percent and this should take effect from first January 2003.'' Earlier, Mr Asamoah told the workers that TUC tabled 68 per cent increase and justified its position of the minimum wage and that the government and employers were yet to come forward with their figure.

He said the tripartite committee had not reached any deadlock because consultations are still going on and a new meeting date is February 13. ''The TUC has rejected the projected inflation of 13 percent that was brought by the government.'' Mr Wilson Agana, Chairman of TDCL, said labour was never against the government. ''What we are not happy with is the continued postponement of the fixing of the minimum wage, so we have to draw the attention of the authorities.''