TUC Condemns Gov’t for ‘Giving 9% and Taking 24%’ as Utility Tariffs Shoot Up

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has sharply criticised the government over the latest electricity and water tariff increases, accusing authorities of undermining the recently concluded 2026 wage negotiations and acting in “bad faith.”

Speaking on Joy FM’s Midday News on Thursday, December 4, TUC Secretary General Joshua Ansah said the new tariff adjustments effectively erase the negotiated 9% increase in minimum wage and base pay, leaving workers worse off.

Mr. Ansah said the timing of the hikes — coming just weeks after the Tripartite Committee agreed on a 9% salary adjustment for the 2026 fiscal year — shows a clear disregard for workers’ welfare. While electricity tariffs have gone up by 9%, water tariffs have seen an increase of more than 15%.

He argued that the combined impact of the new utility rates completely destroys the value of the wage increment.

“Just weeks ago, we agreed on a 9% increase in base pay and the minimum wage. Suddenly, the government turns around to hit us with 9% for electricity and over 15% for water,” he noted.

According to him, the math shows that the government is effectively reversing the wage increase and pushing workers into negative real income.

“You cannot give us 9% and then impose tariff increases totalling about 24%. It means the 9% we fought for is gone, and workers are now suffering an extra negative 15%. This is unacceptable,” he stressed.

TUC Demands Full Withdrawal or Fresh Negotiations

The labour union has therefore demanded a complete reversal of the tariff hikes, insisting that workers are not interested in a mere salary top-up.

“In our statement, we made it clear: we want the tariff increases withdrawn entirely. We are not even asking for a top-up,” Mr. Ansah said.

However, he maintained that if the government is unwilling to reverse the hikes, then the 9% wage adjustment must be renegotiated immediately to offset the sudden jump in the cost of living.

“If government cannot withdraw the increases, then we must go back and renegotiate the 9%. You cannot give someone 9 cedis and expect them to pay 24 cedis,” he added.

The TUC’s firm resistance underscores the rising financial strain on workers, as inflation and soaring utility costs continue to squeeze household budgets and intensify pressure on the government to justify the timing and scale of the tariff adjustments.