Vacate or else… – TUC warns ICU over occupation of building

The Deputy Secretary General of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC) has warned the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) to vacate the TUC Building for renovation works to go on. According to Joshua Ansah, ICU’s position not to budge is impeding work of the contractor. Speaking exclusively to TV3’s Daniel Opoku, Mr Ansah said the claim that TUC is harassing ICU is untrue. “It is unfounded,” he stressed on Tuesday. He said the cost of renovation was amply discussed among all the 20 affiliates of the TUC and a decision was reached. But since ICU had seceded from the Congress, they were not part of the decision-making process. “Anytime, there is a meeting, ICU will find an excuse.” For him, that is what led to their exclusion from discussions. Mr Ansah therefore urged ICU, particularly its Executive Secretary Solomon Kotei, to write officially to the TUC to be accepted back as a member. He said the doors of TUC are open to ICU’s return. On Monday, March 4, Mr Kotei protested a decision to get the ICU vacate the office. According to him, the matter is in court and so the union will only move out by a court order. ICU is said to have engaged private security officers to prevent TUC from evicting them. To them, the renovation works is an excuse by TUC to “clandestinely” eject them from the building, a situation which is against the foundation pillars of trades union in Ghana. He said ICU as pioneer members of TUC cannot be evicted without any reason. He further warned the contractor not to impede the free access of ICU members to the building. Source: 3news.com|Ghana]]>