Accra (Greater Accra) 2nd June '99

Workers of African Automobile Limited (AAL) on Tuesday undertook a peaceful demonstration against the "unlawful dismissal" of 11 of their colleagues and poor conditions of service.

The placard-bearing workers, clad in red bands and singing patriotic songs, accused the management of incompetence, gross disrespect and discrimination in favour of expatriate staff.

Some of the placards read "Sanction Management, Mr President", "TUC, Help Us", "We Are Dying", "We Need Pay Increase", "750,000 cedis a week for each expatriate, 70,000 cedis a month for Ghanaian workers, How?"

The workers walked from the offices of the company at Atico Junction on the Mallam-Odorkor road through Graphic Road to the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, where they demanded to see the Minister.

Spokesmen of the workers, who pleaded anonymity, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that on Monday 11 colleagues, mainly mechanics and technical staff, were summarily dismissed by the management without any tangible reason.

The workers said they have not enjoyed any salary increase for the past four years.

Attempts to form a workers' union are frustrated by the management, and any group of people or persons who show interest in the formation of a union are dismissed from the company, they said.

The spokesmen said management offers poor medical care, and there is neither insurance cover nor safety equipment.

They, therefore, appealed with the government to intervene to reinstate the dismissed workers and solve these problems.

In an interview, Mr Austin Gamey, Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, said he has detailed the Chief Labour Officer to prevail on the management of AAL not to lock out the workers.

He said a special meeting with the management will be convened to iron out the differences and bring peace to the company.

Mr Gamey said he advised the workers to go back to work and use the approved channel to press home their grievances, saying it is illegal to embark on such an action.