Imo workers begin one week warning strike today

All Imo State workers including civil servants, teachers and local government workers are to begin a one-week warning strike today over non-payment of salaries by the state government. The warning strike which begins today, ends Friday 31st July, 2015. A statement issued in Owerri yesterday jointly signed by the State Chairman of NLC Comrade Austin […]

All Imo State workers including civil servants, teachers and local government workers are to begin a one-week warning strike today over non-payment of salaries by the state government.
The warning strike which begins today, ends Friday 31st July, 2015.
A statement issued in Owerri yesterday jointly signed by the State Chairman of NLC Comrade Austin Chilapku, state NULGE Chairman B.I.Onuoha, NAM Chairman Dr. Hyacinth Emele, Trade Union Congress Chairman B.C.Akalazu among other union leaders, directed workers to proceed on the strike.
The resolve by the state workers to embark on the strike according to the statement followed the failure of the state government to pay three months salaries owed them.
Daily Trust investigations showed that other gray areas generating serious condemnation among workers is the disparity in the method of payment of workers adopted by the state government.
The methods according to workers, include payment of one month out of the three  as well as paying senior level workers, leaving those in the juniors cadre as is practiced by some ministries.
Workers noted that in the ministry of justice, full salaries of judges are paid whiles those in the lower categories are not paid with same scenario playing out in the state’s House of Assembly where salaries of lawmakers are paid in full while that of other workers are paid half salaries.
Meanwhile, alerted of the planned strike, Governor Rochas Okorocha has appealed to the workers to shun their planed action for the interesting of the state.
Okorocha who just arrived the Imo International Cargo Airport from the United States of America, said that the planned strike may not be healthy now considering the precarious economic situation facing the country.
While assuring workers of payment of all salaries, he reminded them of the need to obey an agreement between them and the state government on the issue. 
He used the forum to invite the aggrieved workers for a meeting on Wednesday 29th July, 2015 where some of the grey areas would be resolved.
The governor condemned the refusal of NULGE workers to collect their cheque while advising workers to reconsider  their plans and shun the strike for the interest of peace.