The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has formally requested that the government immediately suspend the implementation of the recently announced utility tariff increases.
According to the TUC, it will vehemently oppose any attempt by the government to enforce these increases.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on December 8, TUC Secretary-General Joshua Ansah characterized the increases as unfortunate and insensitive.
He noted that the new tariff rates of 9.8 percent for electricity and 15.9 percent for water will exacerbate the plight of Ghanaians. Joshua Ansah cautioned that they will resist the increases unless the government returns to the negotiation table.
He advised the government to review and upwardly adjust the recently announced 9 percent base pay increase, describing it as inadequate and poorly timed.
“In a spirit of fairness and mutual respect for our social partnership, we demand that government suspends the announced tariff increases. Government and the PURC should, as a matter of priority, immediately engage as agreed to exhaust the consultative process,” he said.
“Leadership of the TUC wishes to assure workers that it will resist any tariff increase that will erode the meagre 9 percent government wage adjustment unless government returns to the negotiating table to top up the 2026 wage adjustment,” he added.
“Why should workers pay for a new tariff increment come January 1, 2026, when their meagre 9 percent pay adjustment will be paid at the end of January? This obviously borders on insensitivity,” he added.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
