OOUTH Workers Begin 4-Day Warning Strike

Abiodun Onafuye/ Abeokuta

The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State today began a four day warning strike to press home their demand from the State government after several ultimatums have been ignored.

JOHESU comprises National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Senior Staff Association (SSA) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU).

The resolution to embark on the industrial action was taken at a meeting attended by all the Union members of the Health institution, held at the he hospital last week Thursday.

Part of the grouse of the workers was government’s inability to pay the N2billion owed them by the past administration of
Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

Meanwhile, in a bid to ensure that the strike did not adversely affect patients, the Management of the hospital has managed to wring a concession from the striking workers that some cadres of staff will come to work to take care of patients.

Sources said the Unions are demanding for eight things from the government. One has been met: the release of the result of the promotion examination held in November 2011. others are yet to be looked into”.

Other demands are: the renovation of the hospital, the constitution of the board, uninterrupted power supply, the
payment of March 2011 Salary deductions, 17 months Consolidated Tertiary Institution Salary Scale (CONTISS) Arrears, 13 months Consolidated Health Salary Scale (CONHESS) Arrears and the Contributory Pension Scheme.

Chairman of the Joint Health Staff Union, JOHESU, Comrade Abiodun Ojabello said, “The Ogun State government owes OOUTH workers a whooping outstanding debt of over N2b which we believe is long overdue and we are ready to ask for our
legitimate entitlement.

“We had earlier informed them that if they failed to heed to our calls, the Union would abide by the outcome of a congress it intends to organize at the expiration of the ultimatum by Monday, 29 April, 2013.And now that nothing good comes out, we have decided to commence a four day warning strike and the aftermath will not be disclosed for now”, he threatened.