Imo judiciary workers begin indefinite strike

 

The Imo State chap­ter of Judiciary Staff Union of Ni­geria (JUSUN) has com­menced an indefinite strike to press home their demand for the payment of four months’ salary ar­rears owed them by the state government.

When The AUTHOR­ITY visited the state ju­diciary headquarters on Orlu Road, Owerri, it was noticed that the gates of the complex were under lock and key with secu­rity men telling lawyers and other members of the public who had come for various businesses that the workers were on strike.

It was also learnt that part of the reason the union embarked on the strike was the failure of the State Government to implement the memo­randum of understanding (MOU) on remuneration between the two parties.

The state Chairman and Secretary of JUSUN were not available when newsmen sought to get clarifications on the rea­sons for the strike action.

However, an official of the union, who pleaded anonymity, told The AU­THORITY that the gov­ernment cut the salaries of their members by 70 per cent, an action the union said was illegal.

According to the offi­cial, “JUSUN is indepen­dent and was not part of the agreement between the Organised Labour and the state government that workers should re­ceive 70 per cent of their salaries. We say no to the slashing of salaries to 70 percent. By every standard, the salaries of the judiciary workers are supposed to be reviewed upwards because of the enormity of the work we do.