Akyem Oda (E/R), March 7, GNA- The Timber and Woodworkers Union (TWU) on Wednesday appealed to the government to resuscitate the timber industry to save workers from being thrown out of employment. Mr Alex Kwabena Bonney, national chairman of the TWU made the appeal when he addressed a day's forum on challenges facing the timber industry and the role of the worker at Akyem Oda in the Eaetern Region. He also appealed to the government to relax the many levies and charges in the timber industry.

He mentioned the increase in stampede fees by 400 percent and the ECOWAS levies, which he said are some of the economic policies impacting negatively on the industry. Mr Bonney said in the 1970's th e industry was the second highest foreign exchange earner for the country, but has now been relegated to the bottom, adding that all sectors of the economy were now overtaking it.

He said the energy crisis had added more crises to the operations of the industry and appealed to the workers to sacrifice more time to work till the crisis is over.

Mr Bonney, who is also the chairman of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), urged workers in the industry to show more commitment by going to work on Sundays when they have power supply.

Mr Joshua Ansah, General Secretary of the TWU who painted a gloomy picture of the industry said more than 7,000 workers in the industry lost heir jobs within six months last year.

He attributed some of the problems facing the industry to the negative attitude of some workers and urged all to change for the better.

Mr Ansah said some forest areas were now being turned into deserts and appealed to the Forestry Commission to manage the forest well so that "generations yet unborn would not blame us". Mr Nat Mensah, Eastern Regional Industrial Relations Officer of the TWU in a welcoming address reminded workers of the precarious state of the industry and urged them to compromise their stand since the employers are also facing difficulties and problems. 7 March 07