The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is to begin fresh salary negotiations with the government to raise the base of workers' salaries to a more appreciable level. That, according to the TUC, would not only improve workers' salaries as they migrate onto the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS), but also enable them to enjoy better service conditions and a good standard of living even after retirement. The Deputy Secretary General of the TUC, Dr Yaw Baah, announced this in Kumasi when he interacted with the Kumasi District Council of Labour to sensitise members on measures being taken to address the lapses in the implementation of the SSSS. He hinted that already the leadership of the TUC had met with the ministers of Finance and Economic Planning and Employment and Social Welfare and briefed them on the pending 2011 salary negotiations of workers and drawn their attention to the problems encountered by teachers during their migration onto the SSSS. He pointed out that until the base of workers' salaries was raised to an appreciable level, there would always be chaos in the country over better conditions of service, as happened when teachers were migrated onto the SSSS. "It is only when workers receive good salaries and better service conditions that they will be in a position to invest in their children's education and offer them brighter future prospects," he noted. Expressing concern over the low wages that had been offered workers in the country over the years, Dr Baah said the situation always affected workers who retired from active service, making them live in abject poverty at a time they should enjoy the fruits of their labour. "The recent teachers' agitation that caused a stir across the country after their migration onto the SSSS stemmed from the fact that the base of the salaries used for the migration was too low," he said. He urged workers to offer the needed support to the TUC as it strives to negotiate better conditions of services to with the government. Denying that the leadership of the TUC was in bed with the government, Dr. Baah said workers interest was the prime concern of the leadership, explaining that it was only when workers had a fair share of the national cake in the form of meaningful wages that they will enjoy a better lifestyles after they retired. He pointed out that as negotiations were ongoing, workers should be committed to their responsibilities of increasing productivity, saying, "it is only when the government proves adamant to our proposals that we will resort to industrial action to force it to yield to our request." On the May Day Celebration, Dr. Baah urged all workers to fully participate in it to enhance its success. Source: Daily Graphic