The Ghana Mineworkers Union has petitioned parliament over attempts by GoldFields Ghana to lay off over 1,700 workers and re-employ them on a contract basis.
According to the Union, the move by the company amounted to unfair labour practice.
Mr Prince William Ankrah, General Secretary of the Union, who presented the petition, indicated that the basis for the company’s actions was unfounded and could result in the loss of revenue for many of the workers.
He said contrary to claims by Goldfields that the Limited Life of Mine (LoM) stands at 5-6 years and therefore cannot purchase new mining fleet, considering the short payback periods is totally misleading and runs counter to its own official records.
He said according to Golgfields own official website, described the Tarkwa Gold Mine as a “World-class, low-cost surface mine with a 6.1-million-ounce mineral reserve and 15-year life that remain strongly geared to the gold price, and strong potential for leveraging resources ounce conversation and driving larger pits with high gold prices”
He said Goldfields has unsuccessfully tried to create the impression that as a result of its aging fleet, to remain in business, it needs to replace all its fleet en bloc, a situation the workers find extremely unrealistic.
Mr Ankrah also stated that “Goldfields intends having its own way. We are a law-abiding union, we’ve had stability in our industry for many years. We deem it expedient to make sure that we present the petition to the honourable House so they understand the dynamics and seeing how best to address the issue…We are demanding that Goldfields cannot do what they intend doing by subjecting our members to a mining contract. Members will lose revenue streams,” he said.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader who received the petition on behalf of the Speaker of Parliament, Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye, said members of Parliament would study the petition and take the necessary action to ensure that the issue is amicably resolved.
Source: GNA
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CONTRACT MINING IS THE BEST OPTION FOR ALL MINE HOUSES. THE UNION IS FIGHTING FOR ITS PERSONAL INTEREST BECAUSE THEY WILL LOOSE THE 40% REVENUE THEY HAVE BEEN ENJOYING. CONTRACT MINING HAS ALWAYS EMPLOYED MORE THAN OWNER MINING.
God bless the leadership of the GOLD . UNFORTUNATELY some of our people help these greedy foreigners to cheat their own people. The question I want to ask is "Why do people form or join Union if all is well in the first place"? and why are they eager to brush the union of their back?.Because the Union(GMWU) will not allow the cheat and intimidation that these so called business owners brings to our people to go on.The Government should take this seriously and resolve this issue wisely because if not,it will one day come back to them.No one want what happened in SA to happen here.God bless Ghana.
A step in the right direction,Prince.Kudos to the leadership of GMWU.Why should our own people team up with these whites and cheat workers whiles gov't look unconcern?There should strong policy to protect and help mine workers livelihood,as in other countries SA,Australia,US etc.,since the work is dangerous and hard.Why should the mine has LoM of 10years and you give 2yearly contract to the worker?It doesn't make sense.