Monrovia – The Civil Society and Trade Union Institutions of Liberia (CTIL) on Thursday, April 27, 2017, elected a new leadership to steer the affairs of the institution.
Report by Augustine T. Tweh- [email protected]
The CTIL elections took place at a one-day convention held at the United Methodist Church conference Hall in Sinkor under the theme “Unity for Labor and Dignity.”
Reading the elections results, Torkonlon II O.T. Weedor, chairman of the elections committee declared Jefferson B. Knight as the winner for the position of President, Kokulo Y. Yorgbor, Vice President, Emmanuel J. Morris, Secretary General, Samuel Y. Johnson Sr, Assistant Secretary General, and Ruth Kono as Treasurer.
Speaking following the elections, Jefferson B. Knight, president-elect, expressed gratitude to the CTIL for giving him the opportunity to take on the mantle of authority of the institution, promising that his administration will work to restore the rights and dignity of the CTIL.
“I can promise you that we will not let you down’ he said.
“We think enough is enough. While the Ministry of Labor and other private institutions, company, and others have seen the weakness within the labor sector, especially institutions that have been setup to protect and promote the rights of our workers in this country has continued to renal and violate the very laws that they have signed and ratified.”
Knight also noted that his administration will ensure that the rule of law on labor and other related matters be respected and promoted.
“Too long workers have been denigrated, reduced to nothing, and considered as a commodity, which is wrong and unacceptable.
So under our administration, we will make sure workers get better treatment. With the issue of salary increment, minimum wage bill, we will partner and work with the Liberia Labor Congress, the ILO, the Ministry of Labor, the government of Liberia and other international partners to see how we can setup the minimum wage board to begin workers advocacy,” he averred.
Also speaking at the convention, Attorney Kula L. Jackson admonished leaders of the CTIL to negotiate and advocate for all workers as it would help the organization achieve its goals and objectives.