Unpaid 34 months arrears: Again, Osun labour unions begin strike Monday

The organised labour unions in Osun State, on Friday, served Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration another 7-day notice of industrial action to demand the payment of backlog of 36- months salary arrears, remittance of monthly pension deduction to Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and 2016 leave bonus to workers.

This development followed the three days warning strike earlier declared last week, after which the civil servants resumed duties.

But, with this development, the workers would commence 7-day strike action by Monday, next week.

In a correspondence issued on Friday titled “Re: Memorandum of Understanding Between Osun State Government and Leadership of Labour Unions signed on Saturday, December 2017”, the labour unions, comprising of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), they called on Aregbesola to honour the agreement in the interest industrial peace.

The letter, which was addressed to the governor and signed by the state NLC chairman, Comrade Jacob Adekomi and TUC chairman, Comrade Adebowale Adekola reads thus “Sir, in view of the unabated hardship that workers and pensioners in the state are being subjected to, total refusal to officially meet our demands, we are constrained to use this medium to give the government of Osun State 7-day notice of strike action, effective from Monday, 10th, September 2018 if all demands are not met within the stipulated period.”

According to the letter, “the joint labour movement, after critical review of the unbending posture of the government, even after the 3-day warning strike to accede to the demands of workers and thereby ameliorate their deplorable and pathetic condition occasioned by non payment of their 34 months arrears of salaries, pensions and gratuities, hereby resolves as follows.”

“That payment of 34 months salary arrears of 50 per cent for officers on grade level 08 and above, which is an equivalent of 17 months full salary be paid immediately.”

“That payment of 34 months’ salary of 50 per cent for officers on Grade level 08 and above which is an equivalent of 17 months full salaries be paid immediately
“That payment of 34 months pension arrears of retired workers in the state be paid immediately”, among others