ECG Threatens Court Action Over Severance Package

Workers of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) yesterday picketed at the premises of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to demand payment of a severance package as a result of the planned privatization of ECG.

The workers want government to as matter of urgency pay the severance package immediately or face their wrath.

According to the staff of ECG payment of severance is one of the Condition Precedent for the disbursement of funds for the implementation of the Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC) funded Compact II.

The aggrieved workers were clad in red apparel holding placards some of which read government pay us our severance now, we need our money no and don’t sell ECG

The government of Ghana has entered into an agreement with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) under the Power Compact Two to privatize the operations of the ECG.

Michael Adumatta Nyantakyi, General Secretary of the Public Utility Workers’ Union (PUWU) of Trade Union Congress (TUC) who was addressing the gathering yesterday said “We want to sound a warning to the Government that we shall use all legitimate means to protect and defend the interests of the workers of ECG. The Battle line has just been drawn”, Mr. Nyantakyi warned.

“The Public Utility Workers’ Union (PUWU) of Trade Union Congress (TUC) has observed with utter dismay the complete silence that the Ministry of Energy and MiDA have shown concerning the request of staff of ECG for the payment of a severance package as a result of the planned Private Sector Participation (PSP), which is one of the Condition Precedent for the disbursement of funds for the implementation of the MCC funded Compact 2.

“The process towards the implementation of the Compact II is proceeding and to all intents and purposes, it is becoming apparent that the Ministry of Energy and MiDA are not giving due attention to the concerns of the staff, to say the least has been very snobbish and patronizing.

“The Ministry of Energy has not provided the appropriate forum to discuss with the union on the issues affecting the staff under the proposed PSP”, he said.

Mr. Nyantakyi said the Union is disappointed with the failure by Government to adequately engage Labour

The position of the workers is that since Government has rejected the option of a joint Venture with ECG and the Private Sector, the intended arrangement will ultimately result in the legal termination of the employment relations that exit between the staff and ECG.

He therefore charged government to pay their severance packages now or the Union will resort to court action.

Source:  Cephas Larbi/ [email protected]