Govt, organised labour must seek consensus

Once again the labour scene is boiling. Industrial harmony is on the verge of being compromised following the declaration of a nationwide strike by organised labour on November 18, 2013.
According to organised  labour, it had taken the decision to back its demand for a reduction in the recent tariff increases.

On Wednesday, September 25, 2013, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) announced a 78.9 per cent increment in electricity tariffs and 52 per cent in water tariffs, effective October 1, this year.

Electricity is a key factor in productive activities. Tariff adjustments in electricity, therefore, affect both domestic and industrial consumers.

Signals and reports from across the country point to the fact that Ghanaians from all walks of life are showing some interest in the strike because of the seeming economic hardships in the country.

It is, however, heartwarming that the government, through the Minister of Information and Media Relations, Mr Mahama Ayariga, has called on organised labour to use dialogue as a means of seeking redress, instead of the recourse to strikes.

Labour relations thrive and endure best in an atmosphere in which the parties in dispute respect the tenets of social dialogue.   The Daily Graphic thinks that intransigent or entrenched positions from any of the parties will not be in the interest of the country, for, after all, it is said that when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.

We, therefore, appeal to the government to make a conscious effort to remain at the negotiation table with organised labour until a compromise is reached.

In the same way, organised labour must also soften its stance because anybody who accepts to go to the negotiation table must be prepared for a compromise.

Times are rough, but the solution to our challenges does not lie in the resort to strikes.

Daily Graphic/Ghana