General News of Tuesday, 16 August 2005

Source: --

Tema workers? gear up for demo

The Tema District Council of Labour (TDCL) is set to embark on its massive demonstration on Wednesday, in protest against severe conditions of living that workers are currently facing.

The workers say should the government refuse to address their agitation, a nationwide demonstration would be organized first and then a nationwide strike action would follow.

The demonstrators are expected to submit a petition to government through the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment.

Chairman of TDCL, Mr. Wilson Agana, says,? we will give ourselves one week and if they fail to address our petition, then we will advise ourselves; this demonstration is not going to be a nine-day wonder!?

The police will provide full escort in on Wednesday to ensure a violence free demonstration.

Mr Agana says the decrease in kerosene and LPG gas prices by government will not deter them from embarking on the demonstration.

Mr. Agana said the pertinent issues in their petition would be the overtime tax and the collapse of the textile companies.

He said the demonstration, which would commence at the Tema Community hall, would be supported by all the trade unions in the municipality.

According to him, the growing inequality in earnings in the country showed clearly that the economic growth Ghana had recorded in the past two decades had benefited only a small section of the population.