Monrovia, — The Minister of Labour, Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah, Sr., has formally requested the management of the Firestone Plantation Company to place an immediate hold on the proposed redundancy of Mr. Winston Ford, the Co-Chair of the Firestone Agricultural Workers Union (FAWUL).
In a communication addressed to the company, the Minister explained that this recommendation stems from findings in ongoing investigations and observations. The Ministry suggests that proceeding with Mr. Ford’s redundancy at this juncture could trigger significant industrial unrest within the plantation.
Minister Kruah disclosed that approximately six weeks ago, Firestone’s Legal Counsel informed the Ministry of the management’s intent to declare six employees redundant, including Mr. Ford. This matter was forwarded to the Director of Workers’ Compensation for technical review and advice.
During the review process, the Ministry was approached by more than 46 Workplace Representatives who rejected the proposed redundancy. These representatives, who serve as the elected voices for workers across various departments, submitted a signed petition to the Ministry urging Mr. Ford to contest the Union’s chairmanship.
Minister Kruah emphasized that the timing of these events—specifically Mr. Ford being petitioned for the chairmanship followed immediately by his inclusion on a redundancy list—raises serious concerns that require caution and due diligence. Consequently, the Ministry has requested that the company suspend any action on the redundancy pending a more thorough review.
While noting that certain administrative actions may be legally permissible, the Minister stressed that they must be exercised with prudence and sensitivity to ensure peace and stability within the workplace.
In a separate formal request to the Ministry, the Workplace Representatives called for a full probe into the redundancy process. They cited Article 29, Section (J) of the existing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which stipulates that in cases of redundancy, a Workplace Representative within a given department shall be the last to be affected. The representatives argued that Mr. Ford’s status as a Workplace Representative across three departments and his role as the elected Co-Chairman of FAWUL provide him with specific protections under the current agreement.