Disrespectful and incomplete: TUC blasts PURC over tariff hikes

Dr. Ken Tweneboa Kodua, Vice Chair of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), has criticised the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) for announcing new electricity and water tariff increases before concluding negotiations with organised labour.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Monday, December 8, Dr. Kodua said the PURC’s decision was procedurally flawed and disrespectful, noting that both parties had been working to agree on a fair and realistic tariff regime that could be justified to union members. He argued that the sudden announcement undermines the cooperative framework that PURC itself initiated.

“The process and the procedure were not exhaustive. We were as a team trying to come up with a fair, realistic tariff that we could even explain to our members. That process was truncated, and this tariff was announced. That is not respectful and not in the best interest of fairness in our partnership with PURC. PURC, in its own wisdom, started engagement processes with TUC, and why they halted and chose to announce these tariffs without exhausting the process must be answered,” he stated.

Labour has also vowed to oppose any tariff adjustments that could wipe out the gains expected from the 2026 wage increment unless government revises the proposed 9% salary increase to cushion workers against the added financial pressure.