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Labour minister condemns ADB strike; customers left frustrated

By MyJoyOnline
General News Labour minister condemns ADB strike; customers left frustrated
MAY 28, 2015 LISTEN

Government has condemned the strike by workers of ADB which has seen some bank staff lock themselves inside the bank, leaving customers frustrated.

Labour and Employment Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, says the action by the workers is “completely misinformed” and “misplaced”.

The staff have been locked in negotiation with government and ADB management and have been agitating for weeks demanding the removal of the MD, Mr. Stephen Kpordzih, and the dissolution of the Board.

But the agitated workers say they feel slighted after sighting a letter extending the contract of the MD by another three years even while negotiations are ongoing.

In reaction, the workers declared a strike and have refused to serve customers. At the Ring Road and Osu branches of the pro-agric bank, the staff had locked themselves inside the bank.

One customer of the bank said another stranded customer played good Samaritan and gave him 10 cedis before he was able to return home.

Another said she receives her salary through the bank and was hoping to make a withdrawal as the month has nearly ended.

But she could not.
A gentleman told Joy News “I have decided to close my account because you can’t keep money because of somebody’s negligence”.

But in reaction, the minister is challenging UNICOF to produce the contract-extension letter which has formed the basis for their latest action.

“Government is simply unaware of such an extension,” Haruna Iddrisu told Joy News.

He warned the staff “you can’t declare a strike overnight,” stressing it has “dire consequences” for the corporate image of the bank and “can erode confidence of the customers.”

According to the minister, government has been cooperating with the workers' demands including halting the sale of ADB’s headquarters and suspending the bank’s planned enlistment on the Ghana Stock Exchange.

Government is still negotiating with the employees on the other demand for the resignation of the MD, he explained.

Haruna Iddrisu told ADB employees, “don’t expect a resolution when there is no cooperation on both side”.

Story by Ghana|myjoyonline.com|posted by EA

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