Organised Labour have called off an indefinite nationwide strike they declared last week in protest against the sale of 60 percent shares of 4 hotels belonging to the Social Security and National Insurance Scheme (SSNIT).
This comes on the back of SSNIT’s decision to discontinue the sale of its shares in the 4 hotels.
SSNIT announced the discontinuation of the sale hours after Rock City Hotel, owned by Minister for Food and Agriculture, which won the bid to buy the shares, pulled out of the deal.
Organized Labour, the umbrella body of workers unions, declared an indefinite nationwide strike on Friday July 12, 2024 in protest against the move by SSNIT to sell the shares.
Labour had vehemently kicked against the deal and had joined a protest organised by an opposition Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to register their displeasure, insisting the deal wasn’t in their interest.
They were later engaged by the presidency for talks on the matter.
But SSNIT insisted it had not done anything wrong and that the deal was in the interest of the nation.
The National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA), on June 28, 2024, ordered a suspension of the sale pending its evaluation of the sale books.
It, however, emerged on Thursday in Parliament that the NPRA has given SSNIT the go ahead to seal the transaction with Rock City Hotel.
The development angered organized labour, who convened a crunch meeting on Friday, after which they declared an indefinite nationwide strike to force government to rescind the decision to sell their pension contributions’ investment to a company owned by a government official.
But within hours following the declaration of the industrial action, Rock City Hotel withdrew its bid to buy the shares, citing what it termed negativity surrounding the deal.
Not long after Rock City Hotel’s decision to pull out, SSNIT also announced a discontinuation of the sale.
But Organized Labour said it was pressing on despite the development.
Some of the unions particularly the University Teachers Association of Ghana made fresh demands including calling for the dissolution of the SSNIT’s board as condition for their return to work.
But at a crunch meeting held this morning, Organized Labour resolved to call off the strike and resume work tomorrow.
They have, however, given government a month ultimatum to address their concerns.
“What we are saying is that we are giving SSNIT one month to address all issues relating to our pensions,” said Isaac Bampoe-Addo, leader of Organized Labour.
