Workers of Bondplex, a wood milling company in the Ashanti Region have declared an indefinite sit down strike to demand payments of three months’ salary arrears due them.
The aggrieved workers are also demanding among other things improved working conditions and consistent payments of their salaries.
The workers have refused to carry out their duties to compel management settle the arrears.
The company consists of three mills of which two, Naja David Veneer and Plywood Limited and A.G. Timbers Limited are situated in Kumasi, and another situated at Mim in the Brong Ahafo region, called Ayum Forest Products Limited.
In September last year, the workers staged a protest at the premises of the company to demand similar conditions.
According to them, management has so far remained adamant to their concerns; hence the current move.
A worker who has served the company for 16 years has been explaining the pain and humiliation he goes through in the hands of his debtors and some family relatives who demand monies from him.
The breadwinner is also worried that he is unable to pay the school fees of his three children who are currently in Senior High Schools (SHSs).
“We are compelled to work overtime, and even with that we do not get the reward for our sweat .It is really sad to be a worker here”.
Another worker cited poor conditions at the company including the refusal of management to pay their social security contributions and insurance.
The Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC) is currently mediating between management and the workers to ensure an amicable settlement of the issue.
At a crunch meeting on Tuesday afternoon at the company’s premises, management met leaders of the workers, a representative from the Coordinating Council and Commander at the Asokwa Divisional Police Command to dialogue on the matter.
Although management was not available to give the outcome of the meeting, a leader who represented the workers said management has refused to pay the monies.
The workers became more aggrieved when their leader took turn to address them about the outcome of the meeting.
