Signals reaching our editorial desk indicates that all is not well at the National Lotteries Authority (NLA) as workers vow to form its much awaited Union despite obvious attempts by management to stampede the process.

According to sources, Management is employing all unorthodox means to frustrate the intervention by the National Labour Commission where representatives of NLA and Financial Business and Services Employees Union (FBSEU) have locked horns in a bid to ensure that workers right to join a Union are not violated with reckless impunity.

It will be recalled that when recent media reports suggested that the Osei-Ameyaw led management was uncomfortable with the formation of the Union, a supposed Rejoinder from the Public Relation Unit of the NLA rubbished the reports, claiming the workers rather prefer a docile Welfare Association.

The National Labour Commission (NLC) has on several occasions directed the two parties to meet and sign regulations (Standing Negotiating Committee Constitution) governing formation of the Unions on several occasions but the NLA continues to be evasive despite several reminders and efforts made by the UNION.

According to our investigations, officials at the NLA are still putting impediments in the way of the workers but the workers who are determined to fight for their rights on the 30th of May 2019, held their General Assembly Meeting of the Welfare Association and unanimously resolved to be members of the Local Union of the Authority.

The staff of the NLA who have opted to join the Union are being represented by the Financial Business and Services Employees Union (FBSEU) at the Labour Commission after the Union acquired the Collective Bargaining Certificate from Labour Department in 2016.

Portions of a letter by the National Labour Commission to the two parties dated April 25th 2019, at the last hearing read, “The Commission directs that, the parties should go and comply with the Collective Bargaining Certificate by forming the Standing Negotiating Committee to discuss the rules and regulation of the Committee in accordance with Section 101 of the Labour Law 2003 (ACT 651).

“The Commission further directs that, they engage within one month and anything arising out of the Collective Bargaining Certificate they should contact the Chief Labour Officer for clarification”.

In a rather bizarre development, this paper has cited a letter (another diversionary ploy by the NLA) directing an NPP law firm ZOE; AKYEA law firm led by the Minister for Works and Housing, Hon Atta Akyea and member of Parliament for Abuakwa South Constituency as the consulting firm to act as the entity to deal with the Union on all matters relating to the issue of Industrial Relations.

“Speaking to the Deputy General Secretary of the Union on the latest development, Mr. Albert Yamoah intimated that the right of workers to join or form a Union is without prior authorization from any employer, the Union will adopt all legitimate and proper means to avoid any industrial unrest at the NLA, Records available to this paper clearly establish that the NLA has on several occasions failed to appear for the N.L.C. for hearing on the following dates: 25th July 2018, 6th September 2018, 24th October 2018 and 28th October 2018 even the FBSEU has always been available for hearing.

Source: asempanews.com