Labour Analyst and Consultant, Austin Gamey says the decision by Organized Labour to embark on a nationwide industrial action as part of efforts to get the government to act decisively on the illegal mining menace is justified.
Organized Labour after an emergency meeting on Tuesday, October 1, declared a nationwide strike which is set to begin on Thursday, October 10, 2024. This decision, the group says has become necessary after the government failed to comply with their demands within the grace period they offered.
If implemented, the strike threatens to shut down major sectors of the economy including health, education, local governance, judicial service, and some industrial and commercial services.
Despite the serious economic impact of such industrial action, Austin Gamey believes that given the reasons for the Labour Unions’ strike action, they are justified.
In an exclusive interview with The High Street Journal, the labour analyst explained that Organized Labour is fighting against a menace that threatens the very existence of all Ghanaians irrespective of location.
The citizens’ health and general well-being, Austin Gamey says are under serious threat hence such drastic actions by Organized Labour is an appropriate measure to take given that the government has failed to act decisively.
“Organized Labour is fighting for the rest of the voiceless people in the country. It is very obvious that the menace of galamsey which is also part of the environmental degradation clearly has now become a burdensome stone around our necks leading to people possibly dying, being poisoned, and becoming sickly,” the Labour Consultant explained.
Commenting on the possible impact of such a nationwide industrial which will bring to a halt the provision of essential services, he quizzed, “What is hurting more than when we are poisoned? What is hurting more than when we are all dead? We will not even be alive to talk about it. It’s long overdue.”
“Whatever we are eating, we are all eating poison. I think it is a right call and the employer being the government must act immediately otherwise they will have to do it on his behalf,” he added.
He therefore insisted that the industrial action by Organized Labour “is a sensible measure to take” and the sensible measure for the government to take is to stop the illegality as demanded by all the well-meaning Ghanaians.
