VALCO Workers Embark On Demo Over Retirees Occupying Top Positions
The staff of Volta Aluminum Company (VALCO) has embarked on protests over what they said was a takeover of the company by retirees occupying top positions.
The workers claimed that, despite operating locally, most company operations are carried out outside the country, and most managerial roles are occupied by retirees who do not have the company’s interest at heart.
According to the staff, this has made their living conditions difficult, coupled with the current economic hardships that have bedevilled the country.
In view of that, the aggrieved workers embarked on a protest today, Monday, October 31, 2022, to register their displeasure with the prevailing conditions of the company.
According to them, all retirees occupying various managerial positions must step down.
The workers also expressed their displeasure concerning the distribution of allowances.
The VALCO Local Union Chairman, Edgar Mensah, who spoke to the media, explained the condition of the workers.
“All of us here, they picked us up from the street, but that does not mean we’ve not been to school. They did not come to the school to pick us.
“But if they come to your school and pick you up, they give you GHS115 a month; that is one part of your allowance. How much is the utility man’s base pay? Just do the calculation,” he lamented.
He further explained that retirees in management positions live comfortably at poor workers’ expense.
“You turn a blind eye to the poor workers’ salary. When he comes to ask for his money, you say the plant will shut down, and you don’t have money, but when it comes to your fuel which is one item on your allowance, that one you can pay. [and also pay] car maintenance allowance and all that,” he lamented.
He called on the owners to address the situation and ensure a remedy as soon as possible.
“Our agitation this morning is, the retirees who are managing this plant, we think they’ve gotten to their peak, and they’re dropping, so we want the owners of this plant to know and then to do the right thing for all of us to maintain this plant the way Ghana wants it to be.
“VALCO workers are not destructive; they’re hardworking. They work 12 hours a day,” the local union chairman stated.