Communication Workers Union welcomes GT-Vodafone deal

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21-08-08

THE Communication Workers Union (CWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has welcomed the Parliamentary approval of the government’s decision to offload 70 per cent of its shares in Ghana Telecom to the British giant, Vodafone.
The National Chairman of the CWU, Mr David Korley Clottey, told the Daily Graphic that the union was happy that there was financial support for GT, but added that “we, however, hope that it would work for the better”.
All along, he said, the workers had advocated a capital injection, which they believed the management could use for the betterment of the company, but the management on its part said it needed a partner.
“We were not against the sale of GT per se. It is the government that is supposed to ensure that GT stands,” he emphasised.
Mr Clottey indicated that during the discussions, workers were always concerned with the aspects of the agreement that affected them, and “that is what we were trying to find explanation for”.
Those, he said, were about the restructuring and the payment of benefits, among other things, adding that labour was not clear about those issues.
As regards payment, he said the CWU had expected that $40 million towards employee restructuring expenditure would remain with the company and not the government.
“We had wanted the money to be in an escrow account so that management and the union can administer it,” he stated, and indicated that the CWU was still in discussions with the government on the matter.
Mr Clottey noted that another aspect the CWU was not clear about was what the fate of the workers would be after the separation of the training school from GT.
“As leaders, we were in for these explanations,” he said, adding that “we are still not clear about this and are seeking clarification.
He said now that the deal had been approved, workers would have to re-orient their minds, and that they would contribute their quota for the success of the company.
“As we expect better prospects from Vodafone, they would also expect better prospects from us. We would have to re-orient our minds and be in self readiness to perform,” he emphasised.
He said the CWU expected Vodafone to use the company’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in dealing with workers, now that agreement had been approved for it to take over.
“ I have confidence in the workers,” he said.
The decision of the government to off-load 70 per cent of Ghana Telecom to Vodafone over the past couple of weeks, received mixed reactions from sections of the public.
The deal, which received overwhelming support from the GT work force, was, however, kicked against by the opposition parties and pressure groups such as the Committee for Joint Action.
The government stated that its intention to sell part of its stake in Ghana Telecom was not to short-change Ghanaians but to guarantee the viability, security and future of a strategic state asset.