Railway workers set September 30 strike deadline over year-long unpaid salaries
By DL news
Published
2 min read
In a letter dated September 15 and addressed to the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, the union described the situation as unbearable, citing the toll it has taken on its members.
The Railway Workers Union of Ghana has announced plans for a nationwide strike and picketing beginning September 30, 2025, unless the Ghana Railway Company Limited settles 12 months of outstanding wages owed since October 2024.
In a letter dated September 15 and addressed to the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, the union described the situation as unbearable, citing the toll it has taken on its members.
“This has resulted in grave hardship, including financial distress, broken homes, health complications such as strokes, disruption of children’s education, and general frustration,” the union stated.
The group said all efforts to resolve the matter through the Ministry of Transport and other institutions had been futile. It accused the authorities of failing to employ legal mechanisms of negotiation, mediation, or arbitration provided under Section 161 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).
“The current state of affairs has created uncertainty for both the company and its employees,” the notice warned.
The correspondence was copied to several state bodies, including the National Labour Commission, the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, the Ghana Railway Development Authority, the Trades Union Congress, and Parliament’s Select Committee on Transport.
The union cautioned that if the arrears were not addressed by September 22, it would proceed with its plans under Sections 160 and 171 of the Labour Act. Workers from Tema, Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, and Tarkwa are expected to participate.
Their programme of action includes picketing at the Ministry of Transport, petitioning Parliament, visiting the Ghana Railway Development Authority, and ending at the Trades Union Congress headquarters. The union has requested police presence to ensure the demonstration remains peaceful.
This threat of industrial action comes just months after an indefinite strike in May 2025 over seven months of salary arrears, which crippled passenger rail services nationwide.
Although government intervention at the time led to a suspension of the strike, the union insists the root causes remain unresolved.
While assuring the public of its commitment to peaceful protest, the union emphasised that its members cannot continue to endure the worsening conditions.
