Rail workers reject Minister's plea as they park trains nationwide

Trains across the country will be parked today as rail workers begin a nationwide strike to protest poor conditions of service.

The workers last week served notice they will withdraw services and stage protests today to demand better conditions of service.

They say their service condition is so dire that some senior managers after decades of service with the company still receive meager salaries.

Deputy Transport Minister Joyce Bawa has issued a passionate last minute plea to the workers to back down as the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission opens negotiations.

She said the ministry has been holding discussions with them for the past week, noting, “What we have actually come to a conclusion on is that they should hold on the strike while we agree on a reasonable increment in their salaries.”

The National Labour Commission is expected to meet with the leadership of the union to find solutions to their problems, said, reiterating that “we have agreed to restrategize their salaries to a certain extent”.

Madam Joyce Bawa said the ministry is also putting in place measures to make the railway sector more viable.

But Chairman of the Railways Workers Union, Alex Nana Boateng says they will not call off today's strike.

“We are also advising them, let's complete negotiation before we resume [work],” he submitted.

He indicated that it would be an uphill task to get union members to rescind the decision because their “low remuneration” has overstayed on the negotiation table and can no longer tolerate any further neglect by the sector ministry.