ACCRA — The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has issued a stark ultimatum to the government, demanding the immediate settlement of 12 months of unpaid salaries owed to members of its affiliate, the Railway Workers Union of Ghana (RWU), by September 30, 2025, or risk a crippling nationwide strike. TUC General Secretary Joshua Ansah delivered the warning during a press briefing on Wednesday, emphasizing the severe financial hardship inflicted on workers and their families amid Ghana’s economic recovery.
The arrears, dating back to October 2024, stem from funding shortfalls at the state-owned Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL), under the Ministry of Transport. Previously, the government subsidized 70% of salaries, but this support has dwindled, leaving workers in dire straits. “The prolonged non-payment has pushed railway workers into severe financial distress, with broken homes and health issues,” Ansah stated, urging swift intervention to avert disruption to the nation’s rail network. The RWU formally notified the Greater Accra Regional Police Command on September 15, outlining plans for a peaceful procession and picketing on September 30, starting at the Ministry of Transport, proceeding to Parliament for a petition, then to the Ghana Railway Development Authority, and ending at TUC headquarters.
This escalation follows a May 2025 indefinite strike over seven months of arrears, which paralyzed passenger services nationwide and highlighted chronic underfunding in the rail sector. The RWU, representing workers in Tema, Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, and Tarkwa, warned that absent “concrete measures” by September 22, they would invoke Sections 160 and 171 of the Labour Act for lawful industrial action. The notice was copied to key institutions, including the National Labour Commission, Ministry of Labour, and Parliament’s Transport Committee, underscoring the union’s commitment to peaceful compliance while demanding negotiation or arbitration.
Railway woes, however, expose persistent fiscal gaps in infrastructure, with the planned October 1 opening of the Tema-Mpakadan line—announced by Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe—drawing union skepticism, as operators claim ignorance of the schedule.
Broader labor unrest simmers: The Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) decried delays in signing conditions of service for junior university staff, museums, and library workers.
