Gas tanker drivers begin sit-down strike today

The Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union will go on strike today.

According to the union, the government’s failure to reopen several gas stations that were closed following the 2017 gas explosion at Accra’s Atomic Junction has harmed its members.

In an interview with JoyNews, the Union’s Chairman, George Nyaunu, stated that the restriction on the installation of additional LPG stores has impacted their working conditions.

Mr Nyaunu stated that various unsolved welfare issues are among the reasons for the strike.

“Some LPG filling stations have been banned since 2017 due to the Atomic Junction incident.

“If one driver has mistakenly tampered with the fill, why should you ban the whole company? So if the transporter has about 50 to 100 trucks and you ban the whole company for one mistake,” he noted.

On Sunday, the Union published a statement outlining the horrible working conditions endured by its members.

“Also, where salaries are being paid, the monies being paid are meagre and incommensurate with the workload of the ordinary Tanker Driver. We have complained and taken industrial actions on many occasions in the search for redress. Unfortunately, on every occasion, we are given assurances and promises that our concerns will be addressed,” they pointed out.

The assurances and promises, they said, are always either forgotten or ignored as soon as they call off their action.