Group calls for nationwide demonstration against tariff increase
The Tema District Council of Labour (TDCL) on Monday, called on all Regional and District Councils of Labour to prepare for the simultaneous nationwide demonstration, which was scheduled for July 13, 2010 but was postponed in good faith, to allow government the opportunity to make good its promise to review the tariff increases.
The call was made in a statement issued in Accra and jointly signed by Mr Wilson Agana, Chairman and Mr Ebenezer Kodwo Taylor, Secretary.
It said the Trades Union Congress (TUC) had been magnanimous enough by compromising its position of a complete suspension of the tariff increase until the issue was discussed.
“Enough is enough! We of the TDCL call on all and sundry, to get ready for us to speak the language that the government understands,” it added.
The TDCL expressed surprise at government’s unexplained failure to return to the negotiation table on Friday, August 27, to discuss the unilateral decision and announcement of the Sub-Committee’s report of 10 per cent reduction in tariffs.
“Members of TDCL were assured at an emergency meeting, well attended by General Secretaries of some affiliate national unions, that the government team was ready to meet the GTUC, among others, the next day, Friday, August 27, to discuss the reported unilateral announcement of 10 per cent reduction and to announce a new review of the tariffs of 38.9 per cent for residential consumers and 90 per cent for industrial consumers,” it said.
The statement said TDCL had taken a serious view of this ‘hide and seek’ attitude of government, as a ploy to neglect its responsibility to the Ghanaian electorate, and push them into further debt to pay their utility bills, school fees and other related educational expenses towards ensuring that, their children and the human resource of this nation were better equipped for the onerous task ahead of them in future.
“The TDCL is worried that, schools would be re-opening this week and parents are still confused as to how to budget for their domestic financial commitments and employers, on almost daily basis, are laying-off workers, due to their inability to meet their overhead cost,” it added.
Source: GNA