Labour to Commence Indefinite Strike on Thursday over Deductions

Sheriff Balogun in Abeokuta

Organised labour in Ogun State has concluded plans to commence indefinite strike next Thursday over unpaid 24 months unions’ check-up dues and co-operatives’ deductions.

The organised labour, under the umbrella of Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (NPSNC), disclosed this in Abeokuta yesterday that the industrial action would be inevitable if the state government fails to honour the agreement it entered with the labour leaders after the expiration of 21 day ultimatum given it (government) next Thursday.

The group Chairman, Abiodun Olakanmi, said: “Despite the promise by the state government to pay the co-operatives’ deductions, festival savings of workers and gradual payment of retirees gratuity, after the organised labour called off its strike in March this year, the state government only chose to execute a part of the understanding it has with its workers and abandon the most important part by only deducting from their salaries and failed to pay those organisations as agreed, such as cooperative societies, banks, workers unions among others.

“As a result of this ugly trend which had prompted our suspended strike in March this year with interventions from the Paramount rulers and other well-meaning citizens of the state, including the state House of Assembly, we viewed the inaction of the state government as being deliberate, calculating and designed effort to make the civil servants poorer.”

He added that “organised labour can no longer tolerate the bluff of the state government while most workers are made to agonise in silence,” as Olakanmi further asked the state government to implement the release of 16 months unpaid salaries of workers of the Tai Solarin College of Education in Omu-Ijebu.

The labour leader who pointed out that the crippling of the local government authorities with the Joint Account Allocation Committee should be looked into without delay, remarked that “without the state government attending to these demands, the industrial action we are embarking on next Thursday will not be called off or suspended.

“All public/civil servants of the state are directed to proceed on indefinite strike next Thursday until they hear otherwise from the leadership of the organised labour.”

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