Several members of the Ghana Mine Workers Union (GMWU) on Sunday, May 1, 2022, went home with amazing prizes when the Union gathered at the National Theatre, Accra, to celebrate this year’s ‘Workers Day’.
The day widely referred to as May Day is celebrated all over the world. It’s a day borne out of struggle from the past but now marked to celebrate the efforts of workers.
In continuation of an annual tradition that started some years ago, the Ghana Mine Workers Union on Sunday travelled from far and near to laud the efforts of members.
At a very exciting event at the National Theatre, the high point was when a raffle was held for some lucky members of GMWU to win amazing prizes.
Among the many prizes, lucky members of the union went home with giant television sets, multifunctional electric pressure cookers, blenders, microwaves, laptops, and water heaters.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the event, General Secretary for Ghana Mine Workers Union, Mr. Abdul-Moomin Gbana said commemorating Labour Day is important to look back at history and the way forward for workers.
“Today workers rights are being respected, today workers can work under very serene environment, there shouldn’t lose sight of it. We need to constantly remind ourselves of where we are coming from and then decide where we are going together," he shared.
Mr. Abdul-Moomin Gbana continued, “This day as far as the Ghana Mineworkers Union is concerned is to say a very big thank you to our teeming members who have travelled all the way from the various sites to commemorate this special day."
He assured members that the Union will continue to have their interest at heart to ensure their warfare always comes first.
Engaging some winners of the raffle, they expressed their delight whiles applauding the leadership of the Ghana Mine Workers Union for fighting for the interest of members.
Mr. Peter Wilson, a winner and member of the Ghana Mineworkers Union who works with Newmont in Ahafo said the Union has lived up to expectations as far as what they promised is concerned.
“Working relationship is perfect, like I said without Union I don’t think most of the workers can survive. When you look at the warfare of the workers, the union is doing a very good job, it has been perfect.
“We have received a lot of benefits from the union,” Mr. Wilson stressed.
On his part, Mr. Shadrach Adjetey Sowah who is Managing Director in charge of Support Services of Golden Star Resources called on employers to take a look at fixed-term employment.
He said it is the new philosophy which should be considered.
“I will say that is the new philosophy and that has been the thinking. It’s still under discussion, I believe the Ghana Mine Workers Union have taken it up and today it was clear when the general secretary of TUC also mentioned it to the President to step in. But again as I said it has its disadvantage and advantage,” Mr. Shadrach Adjetey Sowah told the press.