Ghana: NLC Writes To TOR MD Over Interdiction Of Two Union Executives

The National Labour Commission, the agency responsible for resolving disputes between workers and employers in the Republic of Ghana, has written to the Acting Managing Director of TOR Daniel Osei Appiah to respond to complaints received from the national executives of the General Transport Petroleum and Chemical Workers’ Union over the interdiction of their two executives.

In a letter signed by Dr Bernice A.Welbeck, the Executive Secretary of  NLC, said, “The Commission writes to forward a copy of the letter to you and request your response to the complaint by the Union before the close of work on February 13, 2024.

“Treat as urgent given the Union’s decision to begin picketing on 13th February 2024,” a portion of the letter said.

It would be recalled that the Board of Directors of the Tema Oil Refinery  (TOR) interdicted Serwah Duncan-Williams and David Koomson who are executives of GTPCWU at the refinery at their 261st sitting on December 13, 2023.

The two executives were issued query letters for allegedly speaking to the media about the Tema Oil Refinery and Torentco Asset Management Limited partnership deal.

The Board accused the executives of disclosing the company’s information to persons not authorised to receive it, in breach of Article 43(4) (vii) of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between TOR and GTPCWU of GTUC dated 13th February 2018.

“Your breach of the non-disclosure agreement sighted on April 2023, in which you undertook not to disclose the details of the draft TOR/Torentco Lease and O&M agreements. Giving details of TOR’s draft lease agreement with Tema Energy Processing Limited (TEPL) to the press and print media.

“Using without lawful authority any property or facility provided by the Company for some purpose (media hosting) not connected with the Employee’s official duties, in breach of Article 43 (4)(ii) of the CBA between TOR and GTPCWU of GTUC dated 13th February 2018.”

The company, therefore, invoked Article 43 Section 11 of the Collective Agreement to interdict the two executives.

Reacting to the decision by the Board, the National leadership of GTPCWU rejected the claims by the Board, stating that the press conference was rather organised by the National leadership and not the two executives.

The leadership of GTPCWU accused the management of failing to go through the processes stated in the staff Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Source:https://energynewsafrica.com