FUSSAG joins TUC

Kofi Asamoah (Right), Secretary-General of TUC presenting certificate of affiliation to Kyei Baffuor, Federation President of FUSSAG.

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Friday January 14, 2011
The General Secretary of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (GhTUC) Kofi Asamoah has entreated the leadership of organized labour to continue to seek the welfare of workers in the face of low wages, job and income insecurity coupled with high cost of living.

“The ability to serve union purposes depends largely on the strength of the unions. It is therefore imperative that all workers regardless of their employment, class and status enjoy the benefit of a legal and institutional framework which guarantees their rights to free and fair representation and to engage in useful collective bargaining for workers welfare,” he said.

The TUC boss said this when he presented certificate of affiliation to the Federation of University Senior Staff Association of Ghana (FUSSAG) at the TUC Hall in Accra yesterday.

With the affiliation, the FUSSAG has become the 18th the formal sector union to join the TUC.

Mr. Asamoah said “you come into the union at a time when we seek to further professionalize our operations, reach out and maintain constant touch with our members in order to provide service more efficiently and effectively. The challenge therefore is that your transformation into a trade union should operate within the structures, regulations and the strategic development plan of the TUC.”

He said the issue of productivity and remuneration should always be discussed dispassionately and objectively discussed to bring about consensus building for accelerated development.

“Workers in demanding their rights should not forget that they have responsibilities to live up to. In the same vein employers should not be so profit oriented as to forget that creating wealth involves the commitment of workers.

Mr. Asamoah called on FUSSAG to take steps to reach out to their colleagues in the private universities to help strengthen the union for improved working and living conditions.

Kofi Bonney, Chairman of the GhTUC urged FUSSAG to struggle to meet the expectations of members saying “you have come at a time when the expectations of your members are very high.”

Kyei Baffuor, Federation President of FUSSAG acknowledged the task ahead of them and promised to ensure that their members remain united for common goal.