Graphic honours long serving staff

Fifty workers of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) were yesterday rewarded for their contributions to the company.

The workers, who had worked for 10 to 30 years in the various departments, were given long service certificates at the mid-year durbar held at the company's headquarters in Accra.

The certificates congratulated them on serving the company diligently for their respective number of years and wished them success in their future endeavours.

They had earlier received cash and gift awards from the company for their long service to the GCGL.

In an address at the ceremony, the Managing Director of GCGL, Mr Kenneth Ashigbey, affirmed the resolve of management to reach the collective bargaining agreement with the union without resorting to a third party, as was the case during the last negotiations two years ago.

He said management had declared that never again would it allow the negotiation to be decided by a third party.

Mr Ashigbey said management would make all the information about the finances of the company available to the union to facilitate the negotiations.

The aim, he said, was to reach an agreement which would be in the interest of all and help sustain the company.

"There will be no third party deciding our fate for us," he stressed.

A minute's silence was observed for two workers of the company, Mr Emmanuel Adjei-Gyimah and Ms Dina Agyei Kankam, who passed on this year.

Provident fund

Reacting to the union's request for the staff to be allowed to access part of the provident fund, Mr Ashigbey said some managers and union members were in support of that idea.

He promised that the issue would be discussed dispassionately and in the interest of all, adding that if it required a change in policy, management would take it to the Board.

Bonus/Efficiency

Mr Ashigbey said once the company attained its target of more than 80 per cent, workers would be paid their mid-year bonus.

He said last year's bonus delayed because of the migration from the old accounting system to a new one.

The MD urged all workers to be part of news gathering and sale of the various Graphic newspapers.

He again asked the workers to contribute ideas to improve the quality and, consequently, patronage of the newspapers.

"We owe it a duty to the company to ensure that there is a turnaround," he said.

Graphic Union

The Vice-Chairman of the Graphic Union, Mr William Ashaley, said in the coming weeks the management and union would go to the negotiation table to consider a new collective agreement.

"We assure our members that what we will send to the table will be one that will be in our interest,” adding that it will also take cognisance of the company’s wellbeing.

Mr Ashaley said the union was happy that there was harmony at the company.