TUC boss dragged to court
The Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress and his deputy have been dragged to court over the TUC's withdrawal from the board of the Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission, (PURC).
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The Forum for Governance and Justice is requesting the court to declare that the withdrawal was null and void and to order the Union to restore its membership on the board of the PURC.
Director of Communications for the Forum, Robert Afulimi told Citi News the law which gave birth to the Board of the PURC, makes it mandatory for TUC to have its representative on the Board, adding that it does not lie within the powers of the TUC boss, Kofi Asamoah to decide whether to be part of the Board or not.
The Trades Union Congress announced its temporary withdrawal from the board of the PURC in the heat of the agitation against utility price hikes.
The TUC came under fire for threatening to embark on series of demonstrations and a nationwide strike with critics accusing organised labour of being hypocritical.
Some government spokespersons found the action by the TUC worrying, more so when they were part of the PURC board, which collectively took the decision to increase electricity by 78 per cent and water by 52 per cent.
Consequently, TUC announced a temporary withdrawal from the board of the PURC, a move the Forum for Governance and Justice claimed was illegal.
Robert Afulimi quoted the PURC ACT 538, which states that the TUC "shall" present a representative to the Board of the PURC as will other stakeholders.
The provision makes it imperative for TUC to be on the board of the PURC, Afulimi argued.
He is therefore requesting the court to order a restoration of the TUC membership on the board of the PURC.