Some workers of TV3 Network Limited, an Accra based private television station, yesterday massed up at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to protest the dismissal of 32 of their colleagues.
Although a court injunction prevented the group from demonstrating in front of the TV station, that could not stop the aggrieved workers from expressing their displeasure at the dismissal of their friends.
Supported by the Public Service Workers Union (PSWU) of TUC Ghana and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), the workers assembled to “show solidarity” with colleagues who were sacked last February and called for their reinstatement.
Clad in red, the workers carried placards with inscriptions such as “TV3 best in intimidation”, “Workers have right”, “We are united in solidarity”, “TV3 management must do the right thing”, “Respect workers right”, “Reinstate 32 workers”, and “Touch one touch all,” among others.
Initial Plan
Speaking to the gathering, the General Secretary of PSWU, Mr Richard Amparbeng, said although the initial plan was for the demonstration to be held in front of TV 3, he received a court injunction on Monday preventing them to hold any demonstration at the station.
He further stated that the union had been invited by the Labour Commission to deliberate on the issue hence the union thought it wise to inform the workers about the latest development.
Calling for calm, the President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr Roland Affail Monney, assured that the association would do all it could in its power to ensure that the workers were reinstated.
He said the first move of the association was to appeal to the management of the station to recall the workers but the reception was cold.
This, he said, was followed by a press statement calling on the management to reinstate the workers with immediate effect.
“Our stand has not changed, and our stand is based on the principle that an injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere. If any worker of TV3 is cut, all of us will bleed, so as we speak, we are bleeding profusely for the 32 who were dismissed by management”.
“The injunction is a temporary measure, it will not last forever. Injunction or no injunction, we shall continue to fight until justice is done”, he assured
Expression of frustration
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Amparbeng said the gathering was an expression of frustration by its members at TV3.
“The issue had to do with summary dismissal of our members; it was unlawful because the management did not follow the processes of our collective agreement.”
According to him, per the collective agreement for any matter that would lead to termination, dismissal and suspension, a committee must be set up to investigate the matter and establish the commitment of offence or otherwise .
That, he said, was not done and, therefore, called on the management of the TV station to reinstate the dismissed workers.
Background
Thirty two workers of the TV3 Network, mainly engineering staff, were dismissed after allegedly protesting following stalled negotiations over end of service benefits (ESB) for staff.
According to the Divisional Secretary of TV3, Mr Emmanuel Aggrey, after a long drawn-out negotiation with management of Media Generale, operators of the television station, over the ESB, a proposal by the management was rejected by the workers who made their concerns known.
He said the management subsequently dismissed 32 of the workers for wearing red attire to the office.
Join GhanaStar.com to receive daily email alerts of breaking news in Ghana. GhanaStar.com is your source for all Ghana News. Get the latest Ghana news, breaking news, sports, politics, entertainment and more about Ghana, Africa and beyond.
