The Labour Unions in the country, today embarked on a 7 day nation wide warning strike. Major sectors in Rivers state such as, civil servants, public schools and the judiciary fully complied to the strike call. While, private schols and filling stations shuned the strike and continued operation.
While speaking to newsmen, some civil servants observing the strike called on the Federal Government to listen to the labour unions and do the needful, so that they can go back to work. While others faulted the decision of the unions to embark on the strike now, saying they should have held on till next week when salaries must have been paid, because if the government decides to implememnt the ‘no work, no pay’ policy, many workers will be left financialy handicapped.
The chairman of the United Labour Congress in Rivers state, Innocent Douglas, said the union is monitoring to ensure full compliance of the strike. He said, “Members of monitoring teams are all over the areas of our coverage and we are also on the streets now, monitoring levels of compliance”. “As I speak to you, railway stopped operating today… “we have also learned that refinery has been shutdown as at this morning. We are on the streets, going round to confirm this information”.
While speaking at the joint news conference organized by the National Lbour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC) on Wednesday, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, president of the National Labour Congress, said:
“This is to compel the government to reconvene the meeting of the committee in order to bring it to a logical conclusion.
“In compliance with this mandate, all workers in the public and private sectors at all levels across the country have been directed to join the strike.
“Industrial unions, state councils, all workers organisation and our civil society allies have been directed to step up mobilisation of their members,” he said.
He also said that public and private institutions, offices, banks, schools, public and private business premises including filling stations are to remain shut till further notice.
