By: Kobina Baidoo
National Vice Chairman of the Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union, Sunday Alabi, highlighted the union’s frustrations over delays in improving salaries and working conditions.
The delay which has resulted in an indefinite nationwide strike stems from the government’s reluctance to approve a new salary framework which was proposed to ease the financial burdens of 5,000 tanker drivers each accompanied with assistants.
In an interview on Happy 98.9FM’s Epa Hoa Daben show, Sunday speaking on behalf of the petroleum downstream workers warned that the strike will severely impact many businesses and their transportation services, “50% of the nation’s profit is generated from the work of the petroleum downstream if this strike goes on, just imagine the loss that would be incurred by the country. If the framework isn’t approved, soon no car will move in this country; no plane will go overseas.”
The Union official indicated that the salary framework incorporates the family of drivers, farewell packages for retired drivers, procedure of discharge and offloading and payment processes as well.
Despite several meetings held in 2024 regarding the matter, including a petition to the President’s office on May 7, 2024, no progress has been made. “We have had several meetings since 2017, even this year we created a committee to deliberate on the payments of drivers but it was petitioned against by the Oil Marketing Companies.” he lamented.
The union has hereby halted all services nationwide, demanding approval of the new salary framework.
