NLC calls ACS to order

The management of Affiliated Computer Systems, (ACS-BPS (GH) Limited), a United States data processing company has been directed by the National Labor Commission, (NLC) to submit to its conditions of service, as well as any document relating to disciplinary procedures of the company. According to the commission, its request is based on the fact that it had received complaints from the union that since the unionization of the company, management has adopted various means to victimize the workers. This notwithstanding, the NLC has also received complaints from some of the workers about alleged acts of victimization, which call for investigation by the commission in accordance with the law. ACS workers’ fight for an association began some five years ago when the aggrieved workers raised the issue of forming a union. Immediately, the Ghanaian management of ACS threatened to fold up and relocate to another country. But when this reporter contacted the management of ACS, they denied the allegation. The Human Resource Director, Miss Vida Botwe said the company is not against unionization. “They have every right to form a union. We cannot prevent anybody from joining a union”, she stressed. Even though the Financial and Business Services Employees Union, (FBSEU), a union affiliated to Ghana Federation of Labour, (GFL) had in compliance with due process secured a Collective Bargaining Certificate, (CBC) for the unionized staff of ACS, the company’s (ACS) management has flatly refused to allow the union to meet with its members and criticized the process used by the FBSEU to obtain a CBC. The FBSEU has since re-applied to the National Labour Department for CBC. Consequently, FBSEU wrote to begin the entire process but ACS management never honoured any of the meetings that were scheduled. Meanwhile, the NLC has invited representatives of ACS and the Financial and Business Services Employees Union, (FBSEU) of the Ghana Federation of Labour, (GFL) to meet with the commission on Wednesday October 18, 2006 at 2.00 pm at the commission’s premises. A letter from the commission to the two parties state, “We refer to our meeting held with the parties at the commission on 13th September, 2006 at the end of which certain directives were issued for compliance by the two parties. It appears that the directives are not being carried through and this does not augur well for industrial peace and harmony.”