BREAKING: UNICROSS Staff Embark On Indefinite Strike, Demands Payment of About N500m For Palliatives, Consequential Adjustments
Ndifereke BASSEY
THE Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU, NASU AND NAAT, SSANI have declared an indefinite industrial action to press home their demands of about five hundred million naira for Palliatives, payments of arrears and other entitlements.
The Union members expressed dismay at the nonchalant attitude of the management and the government over staff welfare, saying, "nobody had the courtesy to call them for a meeting all this while."
They noted, only Union leaders have been initiating meetings to no avail, expressing disappointment that the government and management have concluded arrangements to implement a no-work-no-pay policy, if the strike action is actualized,
"According to them, we are not bothered because we are use to the struggle and will take it to the end."
After the Congress, held at ETF 1 lecture hall on Monday, November 4, 2024, the Union unanimously voted for an indefinite strike action until their demands are met.
In a statement jointly signed by Chairmen and Secretary of the three trade Unions at the institution, Comr. Mark Enang Ayo (SSANU, Chairman), Comr. Vincent Etta (JAC/NAAT, Chairman) and Comr. Prince E. Bassey (JAC, Secretary) onbehalf of the unions states: "Having given Management, Council and Government a total of ninety-six (96) working days from June 11, 2024, when the Unions in the University of Cross River State declared a trade dispute over some crucial issues and having not received any concrete commitment from all the aforementioned parties, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU, SSANU and NAAT held her Congress on Wednesday September 25, 2024 and resolved "that, the key issues requiring Government's attention, as listed in our notice of warning strike dated August 16, 2024 cannot be compromised.
"That, the issues highlighted in our numerous correspondences to Management
and Council must be met to avert the looming indefinite strike action by the Unions.
"It should be noted that unions are critical stakeholders and partners in the university project, our interest must not be compromised.
" To this end, JAC will withdraw the services of her members throughout the period of the strike action."