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20 January, 2000IMF writes to multinationals selling their products through a Ghanaian company to call to order their distributor.
GHANA: The harassment and intimidation of unionised workers at African Automobile Ltd/International Automobile Ltd in Accra, Ghana, is continuing. The company, which sells such brand names as Mitsubishi, Hyundai, Fiat and Ford cars and tractors as well as Leyland trucks, has not only threatened its employees but also dismissed hundreds of workers without reason and is now recruiting replacements and refusing to negotiate with the union, the IMF-affiliated Industrial & Commercial Workers' Union (ICU).
Back in December, the IMF Executive Committee sent a strong statement to the Ghanaian government from its meeting in Santiago, Chile, and the IMF protested to the AAL/IAL management. However, as the determination of the company's managing director to prevent or block any unionisation in the company has even led him to engage in violent tactics, one of which involved threatening his staff at gunpoint, the IMF has again demanded immediate reinstatement of the dismissed workers and recognition of the workers' right to trade union representation.
In letters to the presidents of the above-mentioned multinational vehicle companies, the IMF says that the public image of their products will be adversely affected through the violent behaviour and serious violation of fundamental rights by AAL/IAL. "We urge you," writes the IMF, "to call your Ghanaian distributor to order and that they immediately enter into negotiations with the ICU." The IMF is also informing its affiliates worldwide of the continuing anti-union tactics of this company.
Back in December, the IMF Executive Committee sent a strong statement to the Ghanaian government from its meeting in Santiago, Chile, and the IMF protested to the AAL/IAL management. However, as the determination of the company's managing director to prevent or block any unionisation in the company has even led him to engage in violent tactics, one of which involved threatening his staff at gunpoint, the IMF has again demanded immediate reinstatement of the dismissed workers and recognition of the workers' right to trade union representation.
In letters to the presidents of the above-mentioned multinational vehicle companies, the IMF says that the public image of their products will be adversely affected through the violent behaviour and serious violation of fundamental rights by AAL/IAL. "We urge you," writes the IMF, "to call your Ghanaian distributor to order and that they immediately enter into negotiations with the ICU." The IMF is also informing its affiliates worldwide of the continuing anti-union tactics of this company.