The Telecom and IT Professionals Network has served notice that it will embark on an indefinite nationwide strike from Monday (5 September).
It follows among others, the inability of their employers to renew the contract of over 100 targeted members and executives across the national, regional and branch levels of the network.
The network comprises outsourced engineers, technicians, IT professionals and other allied workers managing the technical operations of the three major telecom companies namely MTN, Vodafone and AirtelTigo.
A statement issued by the network on Wednesday said the telecom workers would withdraw their services until three key “non-negotiable demands” are met by their employers.
“And since all attempts to get the cooperation of these employers have failed, we think it is time for action until the following non-negotiable conditions are met,” the statement said.
“These include representatives who are also part of the current Joint Standing Negotiation Committee or Sub-Committee negotiating the 2022 CA and salary increment with the employers which has hit a deadlock.
“Clearly, we are left on our own to take the necessary action to deal with these unfair labour practices and conduct that threatens the very existence of the Union,” the statement stressed.
Below is the full statement:
ELECOM WORKERS TO EMBARK ON STRIKE
Ghana’s telecommunications system will be left on autopilot as telecom workers embark on an
indefinite nationwide strike from Monday 5th September 2022, until the following non-negotiable demands are met by their employers:
1. Immediate recall of all targeted members of TIP whose contracts have not been
renewed by the employers by mere association with the Union and other Union
leaders who are part of the current Joint standing negotiation committee and subcommittee negotiating the 2022 CA and salary increment.
2. Immediate payment of Golden handshake to all TIP members whose contracts have
ended with Reliance and have not been renewed.
3. Cooperation from the employers to jointly sign and submit a letter to NLC referring
to the pending items in the 2022 CA negotiation and the 2022 salary increment
negotiation that we have declared a deadlock on.
The Telecom and IT Professionals Union (TIP), made up of telecom engineers, technicians,
I.T professionals and other allied workers, who manage the key technical operations for the
telecom operators, has served notice to the National Labour Commission (NLC) and their employers to embark on strike action in response to the direct attack by the employers at the
leadership of the Union (From National, Regional and Branch) that has threatened the very
existence of the Union and its members.
The move by the Union is in response to employers’ decision not to renew the contract of
targeted members of TIP and Executives across the National, Regional and Branch levels.
These reps are also part of the current Joint Standing Negotiation Committee or Sub-Committee
negotiating the 2022 CA and salary increment with the employer which has reached a deadlock.
According to the Union, these four employers; Linfra Ghana Limited, MP Infrastructure Ghana
Limited, Reime Ghana Limited and Reliance Personal Services who are subcontractors and
employment agencies of Huawei Technologies on the managed service operations of MTN,
Vodafone and AirtelTigo, have refused to sign a joint letter with the Union to refer to the
pending issues that all parties have declared deadlock on since July 2022. The pending items
are as follows:
a. Determination of the Principal employer and the role of the principal employer in the
employment relationship.
b. Provisions to re-negotiate to restore equilibrium in the CA.
c. Severance.
d. Professional Subscription Fees.
e. Workload and Working Tools (Laptops, Mobile phones, Data bundle and airtime and
Pickup vehicles).
f. Proposed Forty-five (45%) salary increment for 2022.
