THERE APPEARS to be a fierce fight between the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) and the Trades Unions Congress (TUC), over the Trades Union Hall in Accra.
With the intensifying misunderstanding between the two unions, ICU has ‘unveiled’ its security guards to protect its members and assets in the Trades Union Hall.
This follows TUC’s alleged moves to eject ICU from the Hall which was bequeathed to 10 workers unions in the 1960s by former President Kwame Nkrumah.
ICU was originally part of the 10 unions who were given the building in appreciation of Ghanaian workers contributions to attainment of Ghana’s independence from Britain.
And as a result, ICU sees itself as a co-owner of the building but TUC is reportedly treating as a tenant.
General Secretary of the ICU, Solomon Kotei says since 2011, the TUC has been making efforts to eject the ICU from the building.
According to him, TUC halted the ejection move in 2015 apparently for reconciliation but has started making moves again to forcibly eject ICU from the building.
Mr. Kotei told journalists at a press conference on Monday in Accra that ICU will not vacate the premises even as the renovation works proceed.
He accused TUC of not being transparent with the cost of the renovation.
“The truth is that we are here till thy kingdom comes,” he said, recounting that the Hall is an inheritance bequeathed to all trade unions in Ghana.
They are in for fight; if they want to fight we will fight. This is not boot for boot. This is logic for logic, commonsense for commonsense.
He disclosed that the TUC had written to ICU to vacate the building for the renovation of the place and that the renovation would last for 29 months, something he said did not make sense.
He demanded TUC to come clear on who the contractors for the renovation are, and the cost to be incurred.
Mr. Kotei vowed to take legal actions against the contractors should they temper with ICU’s water and electricity connections in the building.
ICU is currently occupying the third floor of the five storeybuilding.
BY Melvin Tarlue