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Unionised workers have expressed their dissatisfaction at their leaders’ failure to save them from job losses.

According to them, the leadership of Organised Labour has failed to take any concrete steps to save workers in the face of recent retrenchment of workers due to power outages and general economic difficulties.

Checks conducted by The Finder revealed that shortly after the July 24, 2014 demonstration against harsh living conditions, Organised Labour suddenly became dormant.

The checks also revealed that several meetings called to deliberate on pressing issues affecting the Ghanaian worker were attended by only the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU) and the Ghana Medical Association (GMA).

This has gone on for some time now, denying the Ghanaian worker that powerful voice that could solicit response and possible solutions from policymakers.

Speaking to The Finder on condition of anonymity, some workers in both private and public sectors said they are baffled that Organised Labour, which is supposed to be the mouthpiece of Ghanaians workers, has been mute in the midst of the storm.

For example, the workers do not understand why Organised Labour failed to publicly speak about the worsening power crisis which is causing alarming lay-offs.

They are also worried that some few individual unions have been left alone to battle government over ‘dumsor’ and fuel price reductions.

The workers have been incensed by Organised Labour’s silence over increases in utility prices last week.

According to them, government would have reduced fuel prices to reflect the world market price of crude oil, which would provide some relief for ordinary Ghanaians.

From January to date, 560 workers belonging to ICU have been laid off. The breakdown includes 238 by Cocoa Cola Company Limited, 180 by Mantrac Ghana, 58 by Cadbury Ghana Limited, and 26 by Novotel Hotel. Mr Kotei said his outfit is inundated with redundancy letters from manufacturing companies.

Latest information from the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU) indicates that about 2,000 workers are now likely to lose their jobs by June unless the business environment improves.   

This is based on the official communication the union has received from about 60 major companies (including both local and multinationals).