The Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Bayelsa State Chapter says it will begin an indefinite industrial action today over non-payment of 15 months’ salary arrears owed its members.
The MHWUN Chairman, Mr Barnabas Simon, who gave the notice in a statement on Wednesday in Bayelsa explained that the arrears owed the union members ranged from two to 15 months.
Simon expressed displeasure over many unresolved issues by the government as it affects primary health care workers in the eight local government areas in the state.
He said that the union had given the government a notice on the strike which expired yesterday.
He expressed regret that there were no signs from the government on meeting the demand for payment of the outstanding emoluments of the health workers.
“The Bayelsa State Council of Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria is hereby directing all her members to down tools from February 12 after the expiration ultimatum on February 11,” he said
According to him, the strike became imperative given the state government’s refusal to address the grievances of salary arrears owed the primary health care workers.
Simon said that the health workers were also aggrieved over the non-implementation of the new National Minimum Wage across the eight LGA’s.
He said that the agitations of the health workers also include non-implementation of promotion from 2015, 2019 and 2020 and no yearly incremental steps from 2012 till date.
He further noted that having exhausted all avenues of dialogue in the amicable resolution of the workers’ grievances, the union could no longer sit on the fence but to down tools.