Workers of the Ghana Railway Company Limited have decided to call of their strike action and resume work on Friday April 4, 2008.

This follows a meeting attended by the Interim Management Committee of the Railway Workers Union of the Ghana Railway Company Limited, the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment, the Ministry of Harbours and Railways, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the National Labour Commission (NLC).

The meeting which was held under the Chairmanship of the Minister for Manpower, Youth and Employment, Hon. Nana Akomea, agreed on the following key issues among others, which formed the basis for the resumption of work, contained in a Memorandum of Understanding signed by stakeholders in Accra on Tuesday April 1, 2008.

These are:-

(i) Prompt payment of outstanding salary arrears;

(ii) Establishment of a committee to investigate grievances expressed by workers and the submission of the report of the Committee within Twenty-One (21) days of its inception; and

(iii) Reconvening of the Standing Joint Negotiation Committee (SJNC) to review the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) including Wages and Salaries which elapsed in 2000.

The interim Chairman of the Railway Workers Union, Joseph K. T. Dadzie, reiterated the “total commitment” of the workers of the Ghana Railway Company Limited to collaborate with Government, Board and Management to ensure the “growth and sustainability” of the railways system in Ghana.

On her part, the Deputy Minister for Harbours and Railways, Madam Sophia Horner-Sam pledged government’s commitment to revamp the railway sector. She said government has allocated Ninety Million Dollars (US$90m) for the rehabilitation of the Western line of the railway network in the Country.

The meeting urged all stakeholders to abide by the terms and conditions agreed upon in the memorandum of Understanding.

Nana Anim Mante

Public Relations Officers

Below is the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the stakeholders

Memorandum Of Understanding

This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is made this 1^st day of April, 2008.

BETWEEN

THE MINISTRY OF HARBOURS AND RAILWAYS AND MINISTRY OF MANPOWER, YOUTH AND EMPLOYMENT

AND

THE INTERIM MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE RAILWAY WORKERS UNION OF GHANA and the TRADES UNION CONGRESS (TUC)

WHEREAS the Ministry of Harbours and Railways and the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment desire that the Ghana Railway Company (GRC) resume work to ensure industrial harmony and the development of the railway system in Ghana.

WHEREAS the striking workers have agreed to resume work under the following conditions that:

i. Outstanding salary arrears shall b paid immediately on resumption of duty.

ii. There shall be no victimization of workers arising out of the strike and related matters.

iii. All other grievances shall be investigated and appropriate action taken.

NOW THEREFORE the PARTIES agree that:

i. the industrial Action will be called off effective Friday April 4, 2008.

ii. no worker will be victimised for participating in the industrial action.

iii. there shall be regular payment of salaries to all stations monthly.

iv. management of Railways and the union shall reconvene the standing joint Negotiating Committee to review the Collective Bargaining Agreement including wages and salaries which has lapsed since 2000.

v. The Ministry of Railways and Harbours shall set up a committee to investigate allegations levelled against the Managing Director. The committee will start work on Monday 7^th April, 2008.

The committee is also mandated to investigate and recommend on the following:

a. all alleged arbitrary transfers since July, 2006.

b. Financial regulations of the company in relation to the signing of cheques.

c. Payment of salaries to railway workers for the month of March, 2008.

d. Review all freight tariffs of the company.

vi. the Ministry of Harbours and Railways shall investigate with the view to review all contract outsourcing track maintenance.

vii. Government should reconsider its decision on payment of subvention to Ghana Railway company whilst speeding up the privatization process.

viii. Parties hereby express their commitment to collectively work towards restoring harmonious working relationship at the ghaan Railway Company Limited

 Done in Accra, this .................................... day of ......................2008.

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