GTUC

The Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr Stephen Amoanor Kwao, has urged labour unions not to see labour disagreements as avenues to engage in confrontation with the government.
He said labour issues were crucial for the country's development, and reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing them.
"The Government of the National Democratic Congress is a listening government that would always approach labour issues with commitment, understanding and determination which would seek improvement in the quality of life of the Ghanaian.
Mr Amoanor Kwao made the call in a speech read on his behalf by the Deputy Minister for Employment and Social Welfare, Mr Antwi Boasiako, at the launch of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) in Accra.
It was on the theme, "PSWU 50 years in the service of workers- the way forward."
Mr Amoanor Kwao has assured labour unions that the government would do anything to promote their existence and ensure their effectiveness.
He said labour unions were important because they provided the government with the platform to properly handle issues more conveniently through their leadership.
Mr Amoanor Kwao said labour unions were critical tools that afforded workers the opportunity to build a united front from which their welfare and development issues could crystallise and put forward.
"You have also been able to organise both the government and SSNIT pensioners. This also runs to a total of about eighty thousand in number and this position in terms of numbers should enhance your dealings with government at the highest levels. The union should be a springboard for you to improve upon your performance and reach the zenith of your operations to the satisfaction of your stakeholders", he added.
Mr Amoanor Kwoa urged the union to make realistic demands on the government to benefit it members.
He lauded the union for securing Bargaining Certificates for most of its corporate entities and urged them to work hard for the betterment of the union.
The General Secretary of the National Union, Mr Daniel Antwi, said salary levels in the public sector often influenced private sector salaries and conditions.
He said the efforts of unions went a long way in ensuring that society at large enjoyed appreciable public services as might be provided by the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) or the Ghana Civil Aviation.
He recalled the fact that the PSWU was the first in keeping in place the Forum of Government Trade Unions as a framework for forging common positions to leverage collective bargaining with the government on issues.
He said the PMSU had also offered immense leadership at the level of the GTUC, thus bolstering up the union in its dealings with government.
Mr Antwi advised the union to develop strategic ideas in order to consistently defend and further the interests of Ghanaian workers.
The Deputy Director of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Mr Willis Orhin, said gone are the days when labour unions were all about staff welfare.
He said now the trend was for unions to have a say in the growth of the organisations of which they were part.
He said it was on record that the some unions had partnered with their management teams to add value to goods and services they produced in a bid to have a competitive edge.
"As the business world is currently going through the most challenging economic crisis, it behoves both management and labour unions to team up and find new innovative ways of doing business at minimum cost", he said.
He commended the union for its achievements and efforts in contributing to revamping organised labour at all levels.