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Blame labour for delay in economic recovery - group

By Myjoyonline.com
Politics Blame labour for delay in economic recovery - group
AUG 1, 2014 LISTEN

"The leadership of organized labour must be held ultimately responsible for any further delays in the country's economic recovery,” the Reform for Youth Empowerment has suggested.

According to the pressure group, the increasing labour agitations could be attributed to the failed leadership of organized labour.

“We are of the firm conviction that, there is no justification to employ deliberate ignorance and deception to incite a growing disciplined Labour force to needlessly challenge the ongoing successful efforts by the NDC Government in reducing the adverse effects of the short-term fiscal challenges and turning the economy now, towards recovery,” the group said in a statement.

It accused the leadership of labour of employing intimidating tactics to compel unwilling unionized members to participate in strikes and demonstrations such as the one held on July 24.

“This contemptuous treatment of its own membership points credibly to the use of Organized Labour by a small group of individuals for their own political ambition and/or to cover-up internal power struggle within labour.”

 
Read the full statement below
 
FAILED ORGANIZED LABOURS' LEADERSHIP IS TO BE BLAMED FOR THE 24 TH JULY STRIKE AND INCREASING LABOUR STRIKE/DEMONSTRATION IN GHANA

 
The burdensome militant mindset and/or unrealistic socio-economic posturing by the failed leadership of Organized Labour largely is to be blamed for the  underlying disputes and/or misunderstandings necessitating not only the unpopular 24 th July, 2014 one-day nationwide strike/demonstration but also for the  increasing Labour strike/demonstration in recent times.

Whilst we do not oppose or protest the constitutional rights of Citizens/Organized Labour to embark on demonstrations/strikes to express legitimate concerns or grievances, we also reserve the right to criticize the needfulness and/or appropriateness of these demonstrations when it offends great sense of leadership and sacrifices of a nation in a time of need.

We are of the firm conviction that, there is no justification to employ deliberate ignorance and deception to incite a growing disciplined Labour force to needlessly challenge the ongoing successful efforts by the NDC Government in reducing the adverse effects of the short-term fiscal challenges and turning the economy now, towards recovery. The leadership of Organized Labour, must be held ultimately responsible for any further delay towards immediate full economic recovery as it is the main focus and determination of the government to passionately achieve now.

This is because, the leadership of Organized Labour is further determined to intensively sustain the ongoing unprovoked labour strikes/demonstrations to undermine the continuous Organized Labour's grassroots support in these challenging times for government's genuine medium/long-term policy measures and ongoing radical investments in the core and productive sectors of the economy. The failed leadership of Organized Labour must be restrained in view of the unpopular and to a large extent the unsuccessful 24th July, 2014 one-day nationwide labour strike/demonstration from creating intimidating conditions compelling unwilling unionized members to forcefully participate in strikes/demonstrations solely engineered and/or declared by disgruntle leadership.

These intimidating conditions were ever more present when the 24 th July nationwide labour strike was evidently declared solely by the leadership of Organized Labour without consultation with its unionized grassroots' membership and/or seeking their consent thereof. This contemptuous treatment of its own membership points credibly to the use of Organized Labour by a small group of individuals for their own political ambition and/or to cover-up internal power struggle within labour.

This is further undoubtedly, confirmed by the date decided on by the leadership of Organized Labour led by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to dishonour and disrespect not only the memory of former President J.E.A. Mills but an attempt to cripple the spirit of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in honouring his memory. This is more so, when the former President J.E.A. Mills in an unprecedented demonstration of a strong political will champion the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Pay Policy against protestations by our major world donors as well as home grown Civil Society Organizations. This is a hallmark of ingratitude and insult to the giant memory of the former president.

Today, general public sentiments have been vindicated in questioning the decision of leadership of Organized Labour to declare one-day nationwide strike/demonstration, taking into consideration the widely publicized grievances and demands, though legitimate but for lacking justifiability and chronically misplaced. Therefore, urgently calling into question the continuous failed internal leadership of Organized Labour informed by…lack of progressive (labour) vision and outdated militant mindset/posturing often characterizing their every response to issues of dispute and grievances. This worrisome militant mindset and/or unrealistic posturing are not only becoming an impediment to good governance but also a genuine threat to national security.

As a Country, we must urgently deal with the leadership of Organized Labour's growing sense of chronic entitlement mentality syndrome which puts its interests above that of the nation. This is dangerous and totally unacceptable.

The leadership of Organized Labour in Ghana cannot continue to blame government and hide behind strikes/demonstrations as a diversionary weapon to escape from deformed internal leadership lacking negotiation capacity and skills to effectively represent Labour's national interests at the negotiation table. Or the inadequate commanding appreciation/understanding of political economy management. To this end, Organized Labour must look within in electing its future leadership…to elect persons with astute professional negotiation background with proven track record as negotiators. The days of electing persons with purely economic, accounting, marketing etc. professional backgrounds or promoted ''labour'' militants/activists to lead vested interests of Labour are over.

There is a deliberate cynicism by overzealous critics in criticizing the NDC Government aimed at the person of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama full of unfairness, evil and wickedness. It is evidently worrying the attitude of or belief amongst these critics which seems to suggest that President Mahama can transform the economy overnight and also end decades of economic suffering of the people now – yet he is deliberately refusing to do so.

Finally, in honouring the continuous great leadership being offered by His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama – We will not dignify these abusive delusional critics by responding to their specific charges which often are uninformed, misplaced and baseless…failing to come to terms with the progressive but significant achievements of this administration in all critical sectors of the economy, particularly the institution of tight fiscal discipline regime and the effective management of same in addressing issues of socio-economic inequalities.

LONG LIVE GHANA!!!
LONG LIVE THE NDC GOVERNMENT!!!
 
SIGNED…
EBENEZER ARKUTU
GENERAL SECRETARY

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