In what looked like the non-chalant attitude by the Imo State Government over the plight of its work force, the State Joint Service Negotiating Council has warned that Imo workers may resume the strike action which it suspended few months ago.
Addressing workers yesterday at the state Secretariat, the Chairman of the Council, comrade Coleman Okwara expressed bitterness that since the last strike action was suspended, government has not bulged.
He pointed out that the issue of study leave without pay which the workers have been pleading to be granted them has fallen on deaf ears. He however warned that any worker caught up by the sixty years age limit should bow out of service.
Comrade Okwara wondered why government has refused to negotiate with the council over “strikeable” issues that led to the warning strike especially in the arear of workers promotion with its attendant arrears which he said must take effect from third of July, 2010.
According to him “when the time comes, the State government must pay workers the arrears of their promotion, it is just like the water in the broken calabash which is always there for the puppy”.
On the issue of “overtime” for workers, Comrade Okwara advised that overtime was for only those who merit it through putting extra duty hours. Adding, that an already issued circular to that effect has already taken care of the issue. Speaking on the staggered payment for the issuance of identity card currently going on now, Comrade Okwara advised workers to let it be.
During a question and answer session, the workers complained that Imo workers receive the least minimum wage throughout the nation and urged the union leaders to also look into the issue of 43.5% relativity minimum wage paid in other states.
On leave allowance, the workers appealed that the payment be made in bulk instead of staggered payment style to which the JNC Chairman reviealed that government took the decision on the mood of payment without recourse to the council executives and then promised that the issues would be reversed to status quo and consistent too.
Comrade Okwara concluded his addressed in these words, “I salute Imo workers for their solidarity with the council and reassured that the union leadership will never betray workers in the state. In a short while. You will hear from us again on the next line of action.
