The Chairperson of New Patriotic Party (NPP), in the United Kingdom (UK), Kingsley Adumattah Agyapong who is better known as Wofa Kay has reacted to the proposed 60% increment in salary by the Organized Labour.
According to him, prices of almost everything has increased in the country, making life unbearable for some section of workers- however, to make such a huge demand during this same time that the country is faced with global crisis, how then do they expect government to fetch out such huge money to meet their demand.
“Transport fares have increased likewise hike in food prices, utility bills among others. Therefore, if the person is not able to afford all these and not making profit from what they are doing then requesting for a salary increment is okay, but the magnitude of a 60% increment makes the workers insensitive. Because the government had said on several grounds that the economy is in shambles”, he told Kwaku Dawuro on Movement in the morning show on Wontumi Radio/Movement TV.
He went further to say that he sympathizes with the labour union on their request but from the look of things, it’s difficult to make such demands at a crucial moment like this.
“In as much as I sympathize with them, we should also look at the realistic point of view as to how that could be achieved. Today as I speak to you, one of my friends who is a bus driver in UK has said they are on a strike. Most of the buses are not working because they said they also want increment in salary. It’s happening everywhere and they are also not of exception. But I think I like the way that they’re conducting themselves”, he stressed.
He concluded by saying that there’s no government that has money in its coffers and will refuse to support its labour union in hard times. Hence, the organized labour should exercise patience with the government.
This follows a call by public sector workers for a 60 per cent increase in the base pay on the Single Spine Salary Structure for 2023.
Meanwhile, a meeting between the government and organized labour to discuss the proposal has ended inconclusively. The next meeting has been scheduled for Monday 21st November 2022.