GRC SUFFERS FROM WORKERS STRIKE (PAGE 20)

OFFICIALS at the Ghana Railways Company (GRC) say the eight-week strike which was embarked upon by its workers for better working conditions has virtually collapsed the company’s operations.
Sources at the company told the Daily Graphic that during the strike, the company’s major clients in the bauxite, manganese, cement and flour industries, resorted to haulage trucks for the transportation of their goods to the loading bay at the Takoradi Port and had still not returned to the railways company.
The sources said as a result workers of the railways company were now idle, while the locomotives, vans and wagons were parked.
Additionally the salaries of about 2,420 workers remain outstanding.
According to the sources, the major clients signed a one-year contract with the haulage trucks during the strike.
By that the company is said to have lost a $1 million contract between it and GHACEM alone.
That contract, however, is expected to be renewed next month for the haulage of 90,000 tones of cement. But the bauxite companies are said to be demanding stricter safety measures following the last rail accident at Huni Valley before renewing their haulage contract with the company.
At present, many employees of the company only report for duty with nothing specific to do. However, the salaries of the workers continue to pile up with three months wages now in arrears. That aside, the GRC is indebted to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the Internal Revenue Service and the company is unable to honour workers’ contributions to their mother union.
When contacted, the embattled, Managing Director of the company, Mr Rufus Quaye, confirmed the story and said at the moment nothing was happening at Ghana Railways.
He said the road haulage trucks were given specific targets and so far they were meeting the given targets.
The Interim Chairman of the Workers Union, Mr Joseph Dadzie, said even though the strike brought hardships to the company it was unavoidable.
Some of the workers who spoke to the Daily Graphic expressed different opinions about the strike; while some expressed regret, others defended the action and said they would receive the salary as and when it comes.