By Joyce Danso, GNA
Accra, July 20, GNA- The court case between the National Labour Commission (NLC) and Sunon Asogli Power Ghana Limited has been adjourned to July 31, 2023.
The adjournment came after Ms Afiba Amihere, counsel for NLC, informed the court that at the last sitting, though Sunon Asogli Limited (Respondent) through its lawyers had indicated that there was room for settlement, the Commission had not heard from them.
Ms Amihere said the matter was called before the Commission, but adjourned because the respondent was not present.
“I have relayed the information to counsel on the other side, but he said he is also not bothered if we move the application.”
Mr A. A. Ackuaku, counsel for the respondent, confirmed submissions of the Commission, saying, the applicant (the Commission), however, did not add that the respondent had received formal apology from the former employees, which the board and management were considering.
Mr Ackuaku said: “If counsel is minded moving the application, we don’t have any problem.”
The presiding Judge, Justice Frank Abodwe, after hearing the lawyers, adjourned the matter to July 31, 2023.
The NLC has filed a motion on notice to enforce its decision in a complaint filed by the Ghana Mineworkers Union against Sunon Asogli Power Ghana Limited.
The Commission is in court to ensure that Sunon Asogli Power Ghana Limited rescinded its decision to terminate the employment of members of the local union.
In a letter to the NLC (the applicant), Sunon Asogli Power Limited (the respondent) through its lawyers said: “It does not object to the joining of a union by any of its employees, in as much as the joining of the union, is the sole election of the employee.”
The letter said it objected to the manner the complainant (the Ghana Mineworkers Union) was going about the purported unionisation.
“The process by which the complainant is proceeding with the purported unionisation is contrary to the applicable statute as the due process provided for by the statute is being disregarded,” the letter said.
The NLC, in a declaration of facts in support of its motion, said the Ghana Mineworkers Union of TUC had petitioned it against the respondent over unfair labour practice.
According to the NLC, its members were being coerced to leave the Union.
Based on that, the NLC by a letter dated March 1, 2022, invited the respondent and without hearing from the respondent after seven days, the NLC said it issued a reminder to the respondent.
The respondent, through its lawyers, then responded.
The NLC said on April 27, 2022, it fixed a hearing for the matter, but the respondent could not attend.
The Commission then adjourned the matter but gave some directives.
It directed that the respondent recognised the Collective Bargaining Certificate (CBC).
“That the parties should constitute a Standing Negotiating Committee (SNC) to negotiate and resolve any disagreement they have, failing for which, they must report to the Commission.”
It said on June 16, 2023, the Commission received a joint letter from the parties indicating that they had not been able to reach an agreement in line with the directives of the NLC.
The NLC said on September 7, 2022, both parties agreed in principle to respect the CBC.
Consequently, the NLC said it directed the parties to submit a report jointly signed on the terms of settlement.
On October 11, 2022, the Union wrote to the Commission that the respondent was making it difficult for the implementation of the Commission’s directives.
After various meetings between the parties, a notice of industrial strike was served on the Commission.
The Commission said on receipt of the notice of strike, it asked the parties “to stay all intended strike actions”.
The NLC said on March 3, 2023, the Union wrote to it indicating that the respondent had been issuing threats and intimidating members of the local executives to the extent that three workers had had their employment terminated despite the Commission‘s directive “to stay all intended actions”.
The NLC held that the said “termination of employment of the three employees was not justifiable in law”.
It said it breached the Labour Act provision of unfair labour practice and a breach of the fundamental human rights of employees to associate with unions of their choice.
The respondent said it did not flout the directives of the applicant in any way whatsoever by the exercise of its rights to lawfully terminate the employment contracts.
According to the respondent it had complied with the provision of Act 651 and the terms of the employment contract and paid salaries of the said employees in lieu of notice of termination.
According to the respondent, it was unjust and inequitable for the NLC to rely “only representations of the union to issue the said directive / order without hearing the side of the respondent”.
It held that the instant application was unwarranted, unmeritorious and utter abuse of the court process because the time limit set by the NLC for parties to resolve the matter amicably had not elapsed before the filing of the instant application.
