<<Print>>

The Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) of Trade Union Congress (TUC) has declared series of industrial actions to demand an immediate reversal of the unfair summary dismissal of 32 staff of TV3 Network Limited.

At the monthly PSWU Accra Branch meeting held on Thursday, Mr Richard Amparbeng, General Secretary of PSWU described the dismissal of the staff as a clear case of oppression and unfair treatment.

The staff were dismissed in February by Management of the company for engaging in a series of action which the management described as a “breach of the ethics and legal requirements” regarding the employer-employee relationship.

A statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tv3, Mr Jimi Matthews, last month explained that the affected staff, who were from various departments, including editorial, marketing and library “attempted to embark on industrial action” without following the provisions of the Labour Act.”

It said the staff took part in a series of action spanning about a week “without serving notices of their intentions to management and without providing management with the opportunity to engage with aggrieved personnel.

“The actions include, but was not limited to, writing inflammatory statements on the corridor walls and passage threatening dire action, hoisting of a red flag on the transmission mast inside the premises and subsequently wearing red attire and armbands signifying support for the intended disruption of work process”, the statement said.

However, the PSWU, which dedicated its April Branch meeting on the issues of its TV3 Union members, said the action taken by Management of the Television Station was not fair and must be rescinded.

Mr Amperbeng said the Management had also failed to address the concerns of the Union in good faith, and therefore, the Union had no option, given the issues and lives at stake, than to exercise its rights to embark on series of industrial actions.

He explained that on Tuesday, April 4, members of the PSWU would hold a picketing around the premises of TV3 Company and if that does not yield any results, there would be an order of wearing red bands by all members of the Union starting April 11.

He said if by April 24 there was still no proper response from the Management of the Station, PWSU would declare a solidarity strike by all Divisions of the Union nationwide.

“If that also fails, then the proper battle will begin”, Mr Amperbeng noted.
Meanwhile, Mr Amperbeng has assured that PSWU would discuss ways of providing financial assistance to the affected staff until their issue was resolved to alleviate their suffering.