Organised Labour will tomorrow unveil a comprehensive plan of activities for its planned nationwide demonstration and strike action next week.
The action is to press home their demand for a reversal of fuel price hikes and a reduction in utility tariffs.
Union leaders told The Finder that the unveiling of activities will take place at a press conference tomorrow.
An intended meeting with government representatives over the issues yesterday was postponed to tomorrow because of the press conference by the President.
But even before Organised Labour meets government representatives tomorrow afternoon, the eight labour unions will hold a press conference in the morning to outline activities for the planned nationwide demonstration and strike action.
On Monday, Organised Labour and the Accra Region Police Command agreed on routes to be used for the proposed nationwide demonstrations next week if government fails to reverse fuel price increases as well as reduce tariffs increases by close of day today.
Union representatives in all 10 regions have also informed the police in their respective regions about the nationwide demonstrations.
The Finder learnt that government is likely to agree to a reduction in water and electricity tariffs at tomorrow’s meeting but will reject the call to reverse fuel price increases.
However, sources within Organised Labour told The Finder that the only thing that will stop the nationwide demonstration is the total reversal of fuel price increases and a reduction in water and electricity tariffs.
Last week Tuesday, Organised Labour met with government officials and demanded that government reverse increases in the prices of petroleum products as well as reduce utility tariffs hikes, but the meeting ended inconclusively.
Last week’s meeting was attended by leaders of Organised Labour, Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Ghana Employers Association (GEA), Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Haruna Iddrisu, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mrs Mona Quartey, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah from the Flagstaff House, among other stakeholders.
At the meeting, the government team said it would be difficult to reverse the new taxes on petroleum products because government is in dire need of revenue.
According to Organised Labour, the passage of the Energy Sector Levy Bill (2015) was rushed through Parliament without adequate consultations.
The unions argue that the increases would only worsen already bad living conditions prevailing in the country.
The cost of some petroleum products have gone up between 18 and 27 per cent following the passage of the levy by Parliament.
Water and electricity tariffs went by 67.2% and 59.25 respectively.
Members of Organised Labour are Trades Union Congress (TUC), Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT).
Some residents across the country described the fuel price increases and water and electricity tariffs hikes as astronomical.
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