The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Strike

  • Okorocha: strike was politically motivated

    Okorocha: strike was politically motivated

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has said the workers’ strike was ‘politically motivated’, insisting it was unjustifiable after an earlier agreement reached with the leaders of the various unions.

    The governor spoke at an interactive session with journalists at the Government House, Owerri. He said what the government owed was one month salary and not three months as claimed by the striking workers.

    His words: “The workers’ action is shocking and embarrassing because they partially shut down the state for no reason. The strike was politically-motivated because they have no reason to take such action after our agreement. “It was resolved that in respect of the present economic situation and the incoming bailout fund, government will pay outstanding salaries for civil servants, teachers, local government workers and health workers up till June.

    “Both parties agreed that this payment is subject to the availability of the bailout fund and where this is not sufficient, labour and government will meet to decide on the next step.

    “I appeal to them to return to work immediately because if they fail, we will handle it politically since the strike is politically-motivated. We will restructure our salary scale to be at par with that of other states like Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu because the workers have not appreciated all we have done”.

  • Ondo workers suspend strike

    The Ondo State government yesterday said it had reached an agreement with Organised Labour to suspend its proposed indefinite strike.

    At a joint meeting at the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure, the two parties agreed  on the payment of all outstanding allowances and deductions for March and April within 24 hours.

    The unions and the government directed the payment of May salary of local government workers and primary school teachers.

    Other workers will be paid after the sharing of the next federation allocation.

    The Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), Sunday Adeleye, threatened that the unions would go on strike, if the government failed to honour the agreement.

    Head of Service Toyin Akinkuotu said the government was committed to workers’ welfare and would fulfill its part of the agreement.

    The meeting was attended by the governor’s Special Adviser on Labour Matters, Dayo Fadahunsi and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance as well as the chairmen and secretaries of various labour unions.

  • LAUTECH ASUU threatens strike

    LAUTECH ASUU threatens strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), has asked Governors Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) to pay their 13-months arrears.

    The union also threatened an industrial crisis, if the arrears were not paid by the two owner-states.

    It said members are finding it difficult to survive as nobody would borrow them money.

    The Chairman, Oyebamiji Oyegoke, said the call became imperative in view of the “bailout” given to states by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Oyegoke demanded regular payment of salary from monthly subventions and not from the internally generated revenue, which is to be used for other welfare and development projects.

    His words: “The two owner states jointly owe workers 13-month salaries, forcing the university to keep the system running via financial interventions.

    “The Oyo and Osun governments have abdicated their responsibilities of providing funding as expected for the university.”

  • Oyo higher institutions begin indefinite strike

    Oyo higher institutions begin indefinite strike

    Academic staff unions in Oyo State tertiary institutions yesterday began an indefinite strike over unpaid salaries.

    They said if the government did not call them for negotiation in the next 14 days, they would continue the strike.

    The unions, under the aegis of the Joint Action Forum of Academic Staffs (JAFAS), after a meeting at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, said its members were last paid in February.

    It said the non-payment of salary was taking its toll on members as six of them had died in the last few days.

    JAFAS comprises members of the Association of Staff Unions of Polytechnics (ASUP) and College of Education Academic Staff Unions (COEASU) of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, Ibarapa Polytechnic, Eruwa, College of Agriculture and Technology, Igbo-Ora and Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo.

    Kelani Ajadi, who spoke on behalf of the association, said: “We had embarked on a three-day warning strike and we gave the management of our various institutions a week  for negotiation.

    “But since the negotiation was not forthcoming, we decided to take our destinies in our hands.

    “We lost six of our members. They could not get enough funds to maintain themselves. Some are still in the hospitals.

    “Though we welcome the idea that the internally generated revenues of various institutions should be improved, this should not be attached to payment of salaries. Government should release the statutory fund due to these institutions as at when due.

    “The death of Olusola Ayeni of the Public Administration Department and Bayo Atanda from The Polytechnic, Ibadan and three others from Ibarapa Polytechnic could have been averted, if they had been paid as and when due.”

    Olawumi Muyiwa from Oke-Ogun State Polytechnic said since the struggle started, the government had not invited them.

    He said: “We cannot continue to watch until we are all dead. We have decided to take our destinies in our hands.”

    COEASU Chairman at the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, Kingsley Oke, said: “Mr. Ajibade Taofeek’s death was a sad one. There was no money even from the union’s purse to help him. Some are dying. Must we must die before we get what belongs to us? Some of us cannot pay our rent, school fees and other bills. We are appealing to everybody to assist us.”

  • Ondo workers to begin strike

    Ondo workers to begin strike

    Public servants in Ondo State are to begin an indefinite strike tomorrow, if the government fails to pay all outstanding salaries and deductions.

    The workers, through the State Chairman of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JNC), Sunday Adeleye, said the seven-day ultimatum given to the government had expired.

    He said: “We have been meeting with the government representative since last week after issuing a statement of a seven-day ultimatum.

    “But if by today, the government fails to accede to our demand, the union will have no other option than to call a congress and a total indefinite strike will be declared.”

    Last week, the workers issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government to pay their entitlements.

    They said cooperative societies were no longer functioning due to unpaid deductions.

    The ultimatum was contained in a statement by Adeleye after a meeting with labour leaders.

    Adeleye, in the statement, said the non-payment of deductions  showed that the government was insensitive to their plight.

     

  • MTN to end two-month strike in South Africa

    South African mobile operator MTN Group and union leaders reached a deal over bonuses on Thursday, ending a two-month strike that disrupted the supply of some new mobile phones in its home market.

    About 2,000 workers led by the Communications Workers Union (CWU) downed tools in May at Africa’s biggest mobile phone operator, demanding an eight percent pay rise and 16 percent bonus payment. The CWU said it had agreed to an 8 percent bonus payment this year and 12 percent next year. Both payments are guaranteed and not related to the performance of the company.

    “Members are expected to go back to work within two days after the signing of the agreement,” CWU General Secretary Aubrey Tshabalala said.

    The two parties failed to reach a deal on monthly wages, but the CWU has said it would accept MTN’s 8 percent offer if performance conditions are removed. MTN, along with its rivals in Africa’s most advanced economy, is trying to contain costs in the face of tough competition that has hit profit margins.

    The company, which reported a 9 percent increase in full-year profit in March, employs about 6,500 people in its home market, where it trails rival Vodacom by subscriber numbers.

    The end of the strike follows the appointment of Mteto Nyati as chief executive of the South African business after the resignation of Ahmad Farroukh last week.

  • OAU declares indefinite mid-semester break

    OAU declares indefinite mid-semester break

    The authorities of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has declared an indefinite mid-semester break for students.

    This was the outcome of an emergency Senate meeting held on Sunday.

    According to the public relations officer of the school, Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju, the students are to go home and rest.

    According to him, the indefinite mid- semester break for students has nothing to do with the on-going strike by the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU), OAU chapter which has shut down the school.

    Members of NASU, are currently at loggers-head with the school management over their unpaid 64 months arrears and have shut down provision of essential services on campus since last week’s wednesday.

    According to a source, the management took the decision at the senate meeting because of information that the strike might get intense from Monday as NASU members from all other universities will be storming OAU as early as 6am to solidarise with their OAU counterpart.

    “There is also a possibility of police getting drafted into campus anytime soon,so as to prevent total breakdown of law and order on campus,” the source said.

  • Call off your strike, Osun monarchs appeal to workers

    Call off your strike, Osun monarchs appeal to workers

    •Rally support for Aregbesola

    Traditional rulers in Osun State over the weekend appealed to workers to call off their industrial action in the interest of peace, progress and development of the state.

    In a release signed by 15 prominent Obas from across the state, the royal fathers said though the workers have genuine ground to go on strike, they, however, appealed to them to protect the interest of the state.

    Speaking on behalf of the monarchs, the Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba AbdulRauf Olawale Adedeji, expressed sympathy for workers, government and the people of the state over the lingering industrial action.

    While noting that the overall interest of the state is paramount, the monarchs said it is imperative for the workers to call off their industrial action.

    They said: “We sympathise with the workers and also sympathise with the government. We also sympathise with the people of Osun State, because they are also affected in one way or the other by the financial crisis.

    “We commend the labour unions, particularly its leadership for comporting themselves. We salute their endurance. We want to appeal to them to bear with government. We assure them that from what we have seen, this challenge would soon be resolved.”

    According to them, the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola, means well judging from how he has turned around the state in the last five years.

    They noted that the era when the state was referred to as a glorified local government and Osogbo, the state capital, as a glorified capital, has gone, due to the massive development Aregbesola has brought to the state.

    “One does not need to look at the crystal ball to know that the Aregbesola administration has, in the last four years, been busy turning the state around in all ramifications.

    “This is a government whose presence is felt in all the nooks and crannies of the state; this is one government that had been paying workers’ salaries as and when due; this is the government that has introduced novelty by paying bonus to workers at the end of the year; that is the 13th month salary,” the monarchs noted.

    The royal fathers warned that the current situation in the state should not be politicised by those who are seeking to capitalise on the situation to score cheap political points.

    The monarchs equally appealed to the government to intensify its effort geared towards resolving the problems.

  • LUTH disowns strike

    LUTH disowns strike

    LAGOS University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) management has denied involvement in the on-going industrial action by its doctors.

    The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Chris Bode, said it is not within the  hospital’s power to pay the skipping allowance being demanded by the resident doctors.

    “Ours is to prepare the payroll and send to the appropriate authority. It is really a surprise that despite the fact that the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA); Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN); Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the national level and other notable bodies have stepped in and given directives to the doctors to call off the strike, the resident doctors are adamant.”

    The CMD said despite the strike, the hospital has not shut down services.

    “It is understandable that services won’t be as rapid as it used to be, patients have to wait a little longer, and major surgeries are being rescheduled as well.”

    He noted that the hospital has attended to 300 patients, including those on admission, since the strike began on June 29.

    “There is no minister or committee to look into their issue now. So, I’ll advise them to the Federal Government more time. The issue will be resolved  soon.”

     

  • UCTH’s CMD decries resident doctors’ strike

    THE Chief Medical Director of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Dr. Thomas Agan, yesterday said the strike by residents doctors was taking its toll on the hospital.

    Members of the Association of Resident Doctors of the UCTH last week embarked on an indefinite strike following alleged management’s negative response to their demands.

    The association’s president, Dr. Ukweh Ikechukwu, said the strike followed a 21-day ultimatum, which ended on Wednesday, July 1.

    Their demands include better working conditions, the implementation of the sponsorship arrears from 2012, upgrading and automatic stepping up of training and patient care and skipping salaries for doctors.

    Agan, who addressed reporters in Calabar yesterday, said the management was doing everything possible to ensure the system works well.

    He said most of the demands of the doctors were not within the management’s capacity as they depended on funding from the Federal Government, which had not come yet.

    “There is no point pretending. The effect of the strike is heavy on the patients. The consultant doctors are around, but would not be able to provide the maximum attention the patients would require,” he said.

    The CMD described what was happening in the health sector as embarrassing and added that once funds are released in the next few days, the issues would be sorted out.