Mr Emmanuel Victor Asihene, East Akyem Municipal Chief Executive has stressed the need for Trade Unions to work towards the welfare, progress the growth of their institutions.He reminded workers that improvement in condition of service depended on the ability to pay that was linked to increased productivity.Mr Asihene made the call when addressing the first Women’s Conference of Maritime and Dockworkers Union (MDU) at Bunso in the Eastern Region.The conference was under the theme” Building Solidarity Among Women Trade Unionists to Meet Global Challenges”He appealed to the union to use the conference to ensure gender balance, by identifying activities and strategies, which would promote the development of women.Ms Nadia Ibrahimah, Head of Women’s Desk, Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC) called for intensified level of participation by women in both the elective and appointed structures of the various unions.She urged them to meet regularly and develop various activities that would bring women in the unions together to contribute effectively to socio-economic development.Ms Mary Andaara, Second National Vice Chairperson of MDU, stressed the need to support the education of women in the union, because when women trade unionists were adequately equipped with knowledge, it would improve their productive capacity.She appealed to members to close their ranks and unite to build the needed solidarity to confront the many challenges facing the maritime industry.Mr Kwabena Owusu Afriyie, Secretary of the Union said its ability to survive and promote the interest of members depended on strengthening solidarity among members.He said the union as an advocacy organization for marginalized workers, had an obligation to promote and protect the rights of working women who had contributed immensely to national development but remained the most disadvantaged section of the population. Mrs Francisca Borkor-Bortey, Eastern Regional Secretary of GTUC, advised women to aim at achieving higher educational laurels to enhance their competence in trade union organizations.Source: GNA