ArticleS 11&12 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana provides that the worker, regardless of being

casual, permanent or temporary, has the right to join any association or trade union. Section 79(1) of
the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) also provides that “every worker has the right to form or join a trade
union of his or her choice for the promotion and protection of the worker’s economic and social
interest”.

What then is a trade union? A trade union is an association of working people formed to safeguard
the working conditions of the workers. Its main objective is to protect workers, improve security and
raise the vocational status of members.

A trade union can either be enterprise service or trade-based with majority of them affiliated to the
Trades Union Congress (TUC) and others to the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL). There are other
professional trade unions like the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), the Ghana National Association
of Teachers (GNAT) and the National Association of Graduate TeachersIn the formation of a trade
union, Section 79 of the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) provides the guidelines as follows: Registration
with the Registrar General’s Department, application to the Labour Department, union notifying the
employer of the intention to form a union, union and employer discuss the classes and levels of
workers to be unionised members, union applies for a collective bargaining certificate, election of
local union leaders and finally the issuance of a certificate.

However, one most important practice in trade unionism is the negotiation for a collective
agreement to govern the relationship between the employer and the employees. The compilation of
this document has been a bone of contention between management and union representatives.

While management fails sometimes to recognise the presence of unions, thus dragging their feet to
constituting such a document for workers, the union also feels workers’ rights per the constitution
are being trampled upon, thus being an impediment on the way of union to seek the welfare of
workers
List of labour unions in ghana

1 General Agricultural Workers’ Union (GAWU)

2 Ghana Mines Workers’ Union (GMWU)

3 Public Services Workers’ (PSWU)

4 Maritime and Dock-Workers’ Union (MDU)

5 Construction and Building Workers’ Union (CBWU)

6 Timber and Wood-Workers” Union (TWU)

7 Railway Workers Union (RWU)

8 Public Utility Workers UNION (PUWU)

9 General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers’ Union (GTPCWU)

1
Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU)
0

1
Railway Engine-Men’s Union (REU)
1

1
Communications Workers’ Union (CWU)
2

1
Local Government Workers Union (LGWU)
3

1
National Union of Seamen (NUS)
4

1
Health Services Workers’ Union (HSWU)
5

1
Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU)
6

1
Union of Commerce, Industry and Finance (UNICOF)
7