Strike Action Hurts Goldfields





Goldfields Ghana Limited could lose about $6 million a day as its workers continue their strike action.

3,000 workers, who began an industrial action Tuesday over what they described as unfair working conditions and the dismissal of a senior Ghanaian official, have called for a review of how profits are shared among employees.

According to General Secretary of the Mine Workers Union, Prince William Ankrah, the workers have been compelled to continue with the action because management has not shown any convincing response.

He added that Goldfields will face the consequences if allows the situation to continue unresolved.

Already, the action has resulted in the suspension of operations at the company’s Damang and Tarkwa mines.

Likely to be grossly affected by the action is Government revenues since Goldfields, over the years, have been the biggest taxpayer to the State. Goldfields Ghana currently contributes about 40 percent of gold output.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Chamber of Mines says it is intervening to ensure that an amicable settlement evolves.

Dr Tony Aubynn told newsmen in Accra that he expected the company’s management and employees to resolve the issue as soon as practicable, adding that the root of the conflict must be made known.

Today, the Vice President of Goldfields Ghana Limited is expected to meet the miners on in a bid to settle the striking workers’ demands.

The workers, among other things, are demanding an unconditional re-instatement of the senior Ghanaian official who was dismissed after an internal disciplinary procedure.

They further noted they were dissatisfied with some management structures and also the alleged discrimination between expatriate and Ghanaian.

The company described the strike action as unlawful.

Yesterday, management of Goldfields warned that the action by the workers could expose workers to the no-work, no-pay rule, adding they might face possible dismissal.

A business desk report