Workers Strike Paralyses UPTH

The strike action embarked upon by the joint health workers sector union of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) branch, has paralysed activities at the hospital.

Speaking to The Tide, the union Chairman, Comrade Awobi Christian said the union members embarked on the strike after failure of the hospital’s management to effectively respond to the union’s demands.

Comrade Awobi said the union embarked on the strike action as a demonstration of the inappropriate promotion exercise at UPTH since 2010.

He said the inappropriate promotion exercise had resulted in the reduction of the workers’ salaries, stressing that the members of the various unions hospital could not fold their arms and watch their welfare being undermined.

Comrade Awobi said the unions would only call off the strike if the management of the hospital resolved the anomalies and properly implement the promotion exercise of the workers to their appropriate grade levels.

He said the inappropriate promotion exercise had drastically reduced the salaries of the union members, stressing that as responsible union leaders, they had the onerous responsibilities of protecting and fighting for the rights of the workers through dialogue and stressing that the best option left for the union’s leaders was the strike action.

The joint union members on strike include Non-Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (NASU), Senior Staff Association of University Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAT), Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) and Pharmacists and Laboratories Union, referred as allied health professionals and Nigeria Nurses and Midwiferies Association (NNMA).

However, all efforts by The Tide to reach the UPTH management for comments proved abortive as the Public Relations Officer was not on seat.

Meanwhile, the on-going strike action by workers in the institution may be far from being over as the leadership of the unions has refused to suspend the strike action.

According to a statement signed by the union’s spokesman, Comrade Peter Adeyemi, the strike action would continue until the issues concerning the workers were properly addressed.

He said the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Chukwuemeka Wogu had wanted the workers to  suspend the strike action to allow President Goodluck Jonathan sign a memo that sought to address the issues in contention.

Comrade Adeyemi said the unions were of the opinion that mere presentation of a memo to the President was not strong enough to convince the striking workers to suspend the strike action.

Comrade Adeyemi who is also the Secretary General of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) said the union leaders could not go back to their members to tell them to suspend the strike simply because a memo was pending before the President.

He blamed the strike on government’s inaction and insensitivity, stressing that the unions would resist any attempt by government to stop the salaries of the striking worers.

However, The Tide leant that the issues in contention between the unions and government include one year arrears of salaries, demand for 65 years retirement age, establishment of coordinating body for research institutions, funding of research institutes, improved allowances and skipping of salary grade levels.

The unions on strike nationwide include Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions (NASU), Senior Staff Association of University Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHIRIAT), Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) among others.

Philip Okparaji