The workers poured libation at Bottom Tree to renounce a curse they invoked some months ago at which time they had called on the gods to deal drastically with the Minister of Ports, Harbours and Railways should he lie to them on pertinent issues affecting their welfare.

Similar prayers were offered to neutralize other curses invoked on some senior management personnel as well as workers who had clandestinely returned to work after a unanimous decision to embark on that strike action.

Amidst brassband music, the workers marched to the Railway Workers’ Union office in Sekondi, where they poured another libation and continued on foot to the railway line at Nkontompo crossing.

The dancing, drumming and brassband music reached their apogee on their arrival at the company’s administration offices in Takoradi, where the event ended with yet another libation which was followed immediately by some carpenters and other workers removing some barricaded areas and nails on certain doors.

In an interview with Joseph Kenneth Dadzie, Chairman of the Interim Management Committee of the Railway Workers’ Union, he made it clear that it was necessary to revoke those curses now that the way was clear.

He added that since a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) had been concluded with the authorities concerned as well as government, the workers would report for work today (Friday, 4th March 2008) without fail.

Daniel Kingsford Esso, Secretary of the Interim Management Committee of the Union, said it was good that the workers stuck to their guns in fighting for their rights.

He advised the workers to put in their maximum best and skills at the workplace so that with the joint effort of government, the Ministry of Ports Harbours and Railways, National Labour Commission and other stakeholders, the company could regain its past glory.

He emphasized that each party must judiciously fulfill its part of the deal as contained in the Memorandum of Understanding so that there would be lasting peace.

It would be recalled that workers of the GRC embarked on a strike action about two months ago calling for the immediate removal of the Managing Director, Rufus Quaye and payment of their three-month salary arrears.

They also complained that their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) had not been reviewed since 31st December 2002 and demanded a 150-percent salary increase.

See also:

Railway workers ready to resume work

Kessben.fm: 2008-04-04

Striking workers of the Ghana Railway Company Limited on Thursday assembled in Takoradi to celebrate the of their six-week long strike.

The workers, all clad in white attires and waving white handkerchiefs, white scarf, sprinkled powder on one another and danced to brass band music at the company's headquarters in Takoradi. The workers, who had a marathon meeting at the Ketan Bottom Tree, resolved to resume work on Friday April 4 and walked through some principal streets from Ketan but on reaching the New Takoradi round about, they were directed by the Police to use the rail instead of the road.

Mr. Joseph K. T. Dadzie, Interim Management Committee (IMC) Chairman poured the libation in the precincts of the company and revoked all earlier curses, invocations and called for unity and oneness among all.

He thanked the workers for their solidarity and consistency during the entire duration of the strike.

He directed that all doors which had earlier on been blocked should be re-opened to enable workers to resume work but stressed that the door to the Managing Director's office should still be under lock. At exactly 1558 hours, the workers armed with harmers, pinch bars started removing all wooden boards used to seal off the office whilst the workers clapped and cheered. Earlier, when the Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited the office the entire place was dusty, dirty and still had red flags flying at several vantage points.

See also:

Railway workers call Off Strike

Happy Ghana.com: 4/3/2008

By Henrietta Abayie

WORKERS OF the Ghana Railway Company Limited will return to work on Friday April 4, 2008.

This was the outcome of a meeting held in Accra on Tuesday April 1, 2008 among the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Railway Workers Union of the Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRC), the Ministries of Manpower, Youth and Employment, Harbours and Railways, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the National Labour Commission (NLC).

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, Hon. Nana Akomea.

A statement issued in Accra yesterday and signed by Nana Anim Mante, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Manpower, Youth & Employment, noted that the IMC of the railway workers had agreed to call off the strike and resume work as contained in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by Hon. Nana Akomea, Hon. Sophia Horner-Sam, Deputy Minister for Ministry of Harbours and Railways; Joseph K. T. Dadzie, Chairman of the IMC of the Railway Workers Union and Mr. Kofi Asmoah, Ag. Secretary General, Trades Union Congress.

The MOU spelt out conditions such as: prompt payment of outstanding salary arrears; establishment of a committee to investigate grievances expressed by the workers and the submission of the report of the committee within 21 days of its inception; and recovering of the Standing Joint Negotiation Committee (SJNC) to review the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) including wages and salaries which elapsed in 2000.

Commenting on the aftermath of the strike, the MOU indicated that no worker would be victimized for participating in the industrial action, and also promised regular payment of salaries to all stations monthly.

It further noted that the management of Railways and the Workers Union shall reconvene the SJNC to review the CBA.

“Government should reconsider its decision on payment of subvention to Ghana Railway Company whilst speeding up the privatization process,” the MOU stressed.

According to the agreement, while all railway lands given out to private individuals and companies for development shall be investigated, the Ministry of Harbours and Railways shall also investigate with the view to reviewing all contracts outsourcing track maintenance.

The Chairman of the IMC of the Railway Workers Union reiterated the “total commitment” 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.

According to her, government had allocated $90million for the rehabilitation of the Western line of the railway network in the country. All stakeholders were urged to abide by the terms and conditions agreed upon in the MOU.

See also:

Railway workers call off strike

Ghana Broadcasting Corporation: 2 April, 2008

Workers of the Ghana Railway Company Limited have decided to call off their strike action and resume work on Friday, April 4. A statement issued in Accra on Wednesday by the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment said this follows a meeting attended by the Interim Management Committee of the Railway Workers Union, the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment, Ministry of Harbours and Railways, the TUC and National Labour Commission.

The statement said the meeting held under the chairmanship of the Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, Nana Akomea agreed on a number of key issues that formed the basis of a memorandum of understanding signed by the stakeholders. These are prompt payment of outstanding salary arrears and establishment of a committee to investigate grievances expressed by the workers and the submission of the report within 21 days of its inception.

Another issue is the reconvening of the Standing Joint Negotiation Committee to review the Collective Bargaining Agreement, including wages and salaries which elapsed in 2000. The statement said the Interim Chairman of the Railway Workers Union, K.T. Dadzie, reiterated the "total commitment" of workers of the Company to collaborate with government, board and management to ensure the growth and sustainability of the railway system in Ghana.

The Deputy Minister of Harbours and Railways, Mrs. Sophia Horner-Sam pledged government's commitment to revamp the railway sector. She said the government has allocated 90 million dollars for the rehabilitation of the Western line. The meeting urged all stakeholders to abide by the terms and conditions agreed in the MOU.

A Sekondi High Court on Monday adjourned to April 9, a case in which the National Labour Commission (NLC) had instituted legal action against the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Ghana Railway Company (GRC) for not calling off an industrial strike began on February 15, this year.

The workers were demanding the removal of their Managing Director, Rufus Quaye, a 150 per cent increase in their salaries and payment of outstanding four months' salary.

See also:

High Court adjourns Railway/NLC case

Accra Daily Mail: April 02, 2008

A Sekondi High Court on Monday adjourned to April 9 a case in which the National Labour Commission (NLC) has instituted legal action against the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Ghana Railway Company (GRC) for not calling off an industrial strike began on February 15.

The IMC members are Joseph K. T. Dadzie, Alex Boateng, E. Quansah, Daniel K. Esso, Francis Dadzie and Isaac Asare.

The IMC was represented by Mr Asempa J. K. Mensah, Mr Joseph E.K. Abekah and Mr A. H. Bodza-Lumor, while Ms. Efiba Amihere represented the NLC.

Mr Mensah told the court presided over by Justice Anthony Oppong that the IMC received the service on March 26 but under the rules, they must be served for three clear days before they appear in court and that the service was too short.

Mr Justice Oppong said the applicants should have allowed for three clear days before any action could begin and therefore adjourned to April 9.

Thousands of striking Ghana Railway Workers and their interim management Committee (IMC) besieged the court premises and brought proceedings at the three courts to a halt for almost three hours.

The workers clad in red arm, head and neck bands, arrived at the premises at 0700hours amidst brass band music, singing and dancing.

The court premises looked like a battle ground and the workers carried placards and a big banner.

Policemen were brought in to ensure law and order but their arrival rather incensed the workers.

The workers are demanding the removal of their Managing Director, Mr. Rufus Quaye, 150 percent adjustment in their salaries and the payment of outstanding four months’ salary.