UTAG-UEW Vice President accuses TUC leadership of betrayal in galamsey talks with gov’t

The Vice President of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) branch of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), Dr Bernard Tutu Boahene, has accused the leadership of the Trades Union Congress (Ghana) (TUC) of betraying organised labour during negotiations with the government over galamsey-related issues.

His comments come after the Deputy General Secretary of TUC, Dr Kwabena Nyarko Otoo, criticised the government for failing to honour key commitments made last year to tackle illegal mining and protect Ghana’s water resources.

Speaking on the Joy Midday News, Dr Boahene said UTAG initially joined forces with TUC and other labour unions to embark on a joint industrial action to put pressure on the government.

However, according to him, the leadership of TUC later backed out of the collective decision, leaving UTAG to go solo.

“We realised some level of betrayal from the hierarchy of the TUC,” Dr Boahene said.

“UTAG alone wouldn’t give us that kind of strength, so we joined forces with organised labour. But later, when TUC called off their strike, we had no choice but to continue with ours.”

He explained that UTAG went through its internal processes to distance itself from TUC’s decision and proceed with its planned strike action.

“So, it’s not as if we had an initial engagement with government and changed our minds. If you remember, TUC even called off their strike when UTAG was still on strike,” he added.

The standoff hints at growing divisions within organised labour on how to approach negotiations with the government, especially over issues affecting conditions of service and broader national concerns like illegal mining.

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