The National Labour Commission, NLC, has scolded labour unions in the country for often using press conferences to declare strikes. Executive Secretary of NLC, Ofosu Asamoah explained that there are laws governing how strikes are declared and press conferences are not part of mediums the law provides for.
He said on Hot Issues on TV3 that the mediums provided by include writing to the employer and alerting the NLC. According to Ofosu Asamoah, the law “does not provide for strikes to be declared through press conferences.”
He said labour unions have the right to embark on strikes because it is legal. But the law, according to him provides that the union writes to the employer and the NLC seven days ahead of the intended date for the strike.
“Strikes are legal but the law says you have to write to your employer and give notice to the NLC for a period of not less than seven days,” he explained.
Also, Mr. Ofosu Asamoah explained that there is a huge mistrust between the labour unions and the government. He, however, noted that the NLC as a body cannot be biased due to how it is set up.
“There is a high level of mistrust between labour Unions and government. The composition of the NLC makes it nearly impossible to be biased towards any party,” Ofosu Asamoah.