The national Leadership of the Industrial and Commercial Workers' Union (ICU-Ghana) has assured its social partners of continuous  proactive engagement to help reduce the incidence of industrial action through amicable resolution of grievances or disputes.

"Members of the union are becoming more and more amenable to peaceful resolution of grievances and disputes between them and their employers, thus creating a congenial industrial atmosphere which is a prerequisite for increased productivity at the workplace towards the socio-economic advancement of the country", a statement from the ICU noted.

The statement issued by the ICU General Secretary, Morgan Ayawine,  is on the occasion of one year since the current national officers took up the mantle of leadership entrusted to them through the mandate by 11th Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference, "to lead and steer the affairs of this indomitable, single largest heterogenous trade union organization in Ghana."

The ICU-Ghana held its 11th Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference in August, 2021, in Accra where the current and the ninth successive Leadership of the Union since its inception in 1960, was elected into office on the 27th of August, 2021.

The statement said the current leaders of ICU, using the solid base already established by their predecessors as a springboard, are redoubling their efforts and making great strides at union building, sustaining the relevance and general visibility of the Union both locally and internationally.

This is as a result of positive and effective interaction with its constituents or members, social partners, as well as international partners – the Global Union Federations (GUF).

The statement noted that on the local front, the current Leadership of the ICU has leveraged the existing rapport between the Union and its social partners and reduced the incidence of industrial action by harmonising the relationship between the parties through dialoguing for amicable resolution of grievances or disputes.

"This approach of peaceful resolution of grievances and disputes between them and their employers, is creating a congenial industrial atmosphere which is healthy for increased productivity and socio-economic advancement of the country."

The statement said, on the international front, there has been exponential leap in the Union’s collaboration with the Global Unions as it continues to receive more and more sponsored projects, participation in conferences, workshops and seminars for the benefit of members and for the growth and development of the Union.

It added, there is also increased staff satisfaction as the current Leadership’s open-door policy enables every staff of the Union to freely approach Leadership at any time on all matters concerning their welfare and the work. 

The statement indicated that the Leadership has taken in its stride whatever challenges bequeathed to them as well as all current challenges, and are effectively dealing with same and finding solutions to the best of its ability.

The Leadership hopes to admirably turn around the Union for the better by the end of its tenure, and make it the preferred trade union organisation in Ghana today, which every worker would desire to join and every employer would love to associate with.

The statement concluded that "all in all, the one year into the tenure of the current ICU leaders has not only been an experiential learning but also pleasantly challenging, which has made the leadership even more resolved than ever before to forge ahead to serve the interest of the teeming membership through effective, progressive and harmonious collaboration with our social partners and our international partners."