Ebonyi workers begin indefinite strike today

Even as the embattled Governor Martin Elechi laboured against moves to impeach him, the organised labour in Ebonyi State will today embark on indefinite strike over what they described as non-implementation of Minimum Wage and non-payment of September 2011 salaries by the state government.

In a release signed by the Chairman, Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Ikechukwu Nwafor, and made available to newsmen, the organised Labour accused the government of unwillingness to meet its demands.

“Following Ebonyi State government’s unwillingness to meet the demands of the organised Labour with respect to implementation of the submitted report of the committee that revisited the Ebonyi State Civil/Public Service Salary Structure and September 2011 withheld Salaries, the organised Labour in Ebonyi State hereby declares an indefinite strike with effect from Tuesday, March 10, 2015.

“Accordingly, all civil/public service workers in Ebonyi State employment, local government employees and teachers are directed to proceed on indefinite strike until government meets our demands.

‘’Consequently, workers are mandated to stay in their homes and await further directives from the leadership of organised Labour in Ebonyi State,” the release said.

The union had appealed to the Governor Elechi to pay the September salaries in 2011, arguing that they joined the minimum wage protest in 2011 as their colleagues in other states.

Angered by the governor’s refusal, the workers insisted that he ssshould pay them before his exit on May this year or they would shut government offices.

Some of the workers told our reporter they would only return to work after May 29, 2015 if Elechi fails to pay the salaries.