Industrial Action: Ekiti Workers Suspends Strike

The organised labour in Ekiti State has suspended its ongoing three-day warning strike embarked upon in protest over the failure of the state government to pay its members’ entitlements.

The strike which started on Monday was suspended indefinitely sequel to the government’s readiness to meet some of the demands outlined by the organised labour union at a meeting held midnight Sunday.

Despite the action taken to pacify the aggrieved labour leaders, the strike was successful on Monday before the dramatic turn off, as workers complied with the labour’s directive, by shunning their duty posts.

It was gathered that offices in the new Secretariat along new Iyin road and old Governor’s office at Oke Ori Omi were deserted while only few staff seen performing skeletal works in their respective offices.

Activities at the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, were crippled as doctors shunned their duty posts except those in the National Health insurance Scheme.

Many offices in the hospitals were seen locked and patients stranded because there were no doctors to attend to them.

In a communique issued in Ado-Ekiti on Monday at the end of the negotiation meeting held by both government and labour delegations, government agreed to immediately effect the financial benefits of 2015 promotion by September, 2020, while that of the 2016 to 2019 will follow.

The Head of Service, Peju Babafemi, Senior Special Assistant on Labour Matters, Com. Oluyemi Esan and the Permanent Secretary, Establishment and Service Matters, Bayo Opeyemi led government’s delegation that met with the labour leaders.

The communique jointly signed by the two negotiating sides leading to the suspension of the strike reads: “That government will continue to pay the gross salaries of workers.

“That government will effect payment of financial benefits for 2015 promotion by September while that of 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 will follow.

“That payment of outstanding deduction for the month of May, 2020 to be paid in phases and to pay outstanding deductions, salaries and leave bonuses in phases.

“That negotiation on the implementation of the new minimum wage and consequential adjustment will resume as soon as COVID 19 subsides.

“That other issues affecting public service in relation to service matters shall be looked into.

“Therefore, the three days warning strike proposed to commence on Monday, 3rd August, 2020, is called off immediately,” it stated.