Youth activists of trade unions urged to be proactive

Kumasi, March 26, GNA - Youth activists of trade unions have been urged to be proactive and reactivate their organizational activities to help increase the membership of their respective unions and safeguard trade unionism  in the country.

Dr Anthony Yaw Baah, Deputy Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), said the issue of membership was one of the challenges faced by organized labour and that the youth have an important role to play in the unions.

He was speaking at a national youth forum organized by the Public Services Worker's Union (PSWU) of the TUC in Kumasi.

Dr Baah said the reduction of membership of the various unions under the TUC was due to the lay-offs and the collapse of many companies adding that new establishments are preventing their workers from forming unions at the work place.

The situation, he said, was threatening the survival of trade unionism, job security and the protection of workers interest.

Dr Baah said what was needed was to focus more attention on the informal sector, because of its huge numbers.

 He said there was the need to encourage women not only to join their fold but to get them to serve in leadership positions.

He said it was in the youth's own interest to protect and help to make the unions vibrant to save jobs not only for themselves but for their children.

Ms Georgina Opoku Amankwaa, National Chairperson of the TUC, said trade unionism was a career, which one needed to choose and advised the youth to take their time to learn the traditions and customs of their unions.

She urged them to always read and keep themselves abreast of issues surrounding them and to engage in effective networking within the affiliate unions.

GNA