USE STRIKES LOCKOUTS JUDICIOUSLY (PAGE 35)

From Emmanuel Modey, Ho

Workers and Management have been advised to use the options of strikes and lockouts judiciously in order not to engender hardships to themselves or work places.
At a two–day seminar on the labour Act 2003 organised by the Ghana Employer’s Association (GEA)at Ho, the Project Manager of GEA, Mr Charles Asante Bempong, urged workers to use strikes and lockouts as the last resorts after passing through all the laid down avenues to seek redress.
The seminar sought to build the capacity of employers and employees in the labour Act 2003 and facilitate an atmosphere of friendly cooperation and mutual understanding at the enterprise level.
Mr Asante Bempong said unfortunately, negotiations are often carried out in an atmosphere of tension and strikes, thus preventing the full utilisation of the communication potentials.
He said the labour Act 2003 affords management the opportunity to explain managerial positions to workers but unfortunately, many management and union staff come to the bargaining table with their minds made up and not in the mood to consider the view points of each other.
Mr Asante Bempong said such misunderstanding of the labour Act results in disharmony and industrial dispute at the enterprise level adding that, "a compromise can resolve only in partial fulfilment of the needs of each party".
"While both parties may emerge completely satisfied or one party may be clearly dissatisfied under this mood, both could at least come to terms to resolve the most immediate issue", he said.
However, he said due to inadequate knowledge and understanding of the law, employee/employer relationship was being seriously eroded, bringing about low morale, low productivity, industrial strikes and lockouts.
On his part, the facilitator of the programme, Mr Joseph Amuah observed that the National Labour Commission recorded 60 labour complaints on monthly basis last year with some misunderstanding leading to serious strike actions.
" A proper understanding of the labour Act”, he said would prevent such strike actions which sometimes become violent and bloody, resulting in loss of lives and property.