Nurses hold unionisation workshop

Daily Graphic, Pg 40, Monday, March 16/09

Story Rebecca Quaicoe-Duho

A leadership workshop on unionisation for members of the Ghana Registered Nurses Association has been held for 200 unionised nursing staff in Accra.
The workshop, which brought together unionised nursing staff from the Eastern, Central, Volta and Greater Accra regions and was in collaboration with the Canadian Nurses’ Association, was aimed at incorporating union dimensions into the scope of work of nurses on the theme “Strengthening organisational capacity through organised labour”.
The Deputy Chairman of the National Labour Commission (NLC), Mr Kwasi Danso Acheampong, who addressed the nurses called on the government to consider issues which would propel the economy forward.
According to him, issues on labour have not been taken seriously in the country over the years, and noted that downplaying such issues would have dire consequences for the country.
Mr Acheampong who took the nurses through topics such as “incorporating labour relations issues in professional work” and “ethical dimensions of unionism”, said labour was the backbone of any country’s development, saying that it should be an important issue to move the country’s economy forward.
The Deputy Chairman who bemoaned the fact that the commission did not have outlets in the regions and districts to take care of workers’ concerns said although the labour law of 2003 called for the setting up of district offices, his outfit was financially constrained.
He said the commission planned to open branches in Takoradi, Tamale and Kumasi to save the situation where workers had to travel to Accra whenever they had a problem.
According to him, Article 21 Clauses 1 (e) of the 1992 Constitution makes freedom to form or join trade unions or other associations one of the general fundamental freedoms.
He said Article 24 (3) also guaranteed the right of every worker to form or join a trade union of his choice for the promotion and protection of his economic and social interests.
He, therefore, advised the nurses to incorporate labour relation issues in their professional work since by so doing they would not only be exercising their fundamental freedom but their economic right.
He however warned the nurses that freedoms and rights had their corresponding obligations or duties, saying that “the ethical or moral dimension of unionisation of nurses is how to form a trade union for the promotion and protection of your economic and social interest while respecting the legal obligation or duties imposed on you”.
He said trade union right forms part of the entrenched articles in the 1992 Constitution, saying that the rights in the Constitution had corresponding obligations which must also be respected.
The President of the GRNA, Mrs Alice Darkoa Asare-Allotey, said it was only when the association presented a solid front that it would be able to make a good impression and realise its objectives.
She said the workshop will, among other things, enable them to understand the need and urgency for unionisation in career nursing to stimulate their enthusiasm in union matters and also develop their capacity for an effective collaboration and networking with other professional colleagues within the work environment.