Following a violent demonstration by some aggrieved contract workers of the Ghana Bauxite Company (GBC) in Awaso of the Western North Region has led to the shutting down of the company after they burn some properties belonging to the company.
Company bungalows, offices and cars were torched by the angry staff who said their working conditions need to be improved.
There is a security meeting ongoing in the region in reaction to the disturbance to prevent further property destruction from continuing.
According to the contract workers, management has turned deaf ear to their demands of better working conditions and formation of a worker’s union to protect their interest.
“It was not a planned thing but an anger situation that went out of control. On Monday morning everything was working well until news came out based on a previous negotiation meeting with management did not receive a positive response.
O
nce they heard that things are not going as expected then it aroused the anger of people who have been working on this issue for all these years. It has been nine years that we have not been able to form a union,” he said.
According to him, they cannot fathom why management does not want them to form a union and sacking of 16 people in the process over the last four years.
Three months ago, the workers embarked on a peaceful demonstration and petitioned the Regional minister, District Chief Executive, Municipal Chief Executive to help resolve issues at the company but that did not work.
Not only this but the workers said they are not happy with the salary structure with some staff taking home as little as GH¢250 with no benefits and payment of SSNIT contributions.
“They will call you and sit down with you to agree on a salary but at the end of the month, the pay you receive and see on your pay slip is quite different. Contract workers who do the same job, with the same qualifications as our colleagues from the mother company are paid differently,” he claimed.
According to the aggrieved worker, whereas those who work for the mother company enjoy health and other benefits, the contract workers do not enjoy the same.
Meanwhile, the Divisional Police Command has beefed up security at the company and the township as the situation is dire.
