Labour suspends strike in Cross River

The timely intervention of the Paramount Ruler of Bakassi Local Government Area, and Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, HRH Etiyin (DR.) Etim Okon Edet supported by the effort of well-meaning Cross Riverians has forced the organized labour in the State to call off the indefinite strike embarked upon to demand good governance.

In a press briefing in Calabar labor said they have temporarily suspended the action and have given the government four to five months to honor the memorandum of understanding (MoU) entered into with organised labour in the State otherwise workers will not hesitate to down tools again.

Labor disclosed that the suspension is borne out of various pleas from well-meaning Cross Riverians and the state Traditional Rulers Council, who pleaded on them to call off the strike which has crippled the state since October 11, 2021.

The labor leaders who said the strike is one of the longest in terms of duration in the State was as a result of government insensitivity to the welfare of workers. Since we have the interest of the state and children at heart, we cannot continue to follow the misdemeanor by the government.

“For the sympathy, we have for our people in the state we will definitely like to tell all of us that we have agreed to understand somehow for the period of four to five months and see whether what we have agreed with the government will hold because that has been the trend of this government that, when we agree after one minute we disagree.

“Today, the 11th of November, 2021 we have to call back our people to work because we have agreed on certain items that we believe if there is integrity in this government they will actually put into practice what we have agreed.

“Why we have become so soft is that the Traditional Rulers Council and all well-meaning citizens have called on organized Labor and pleaded with us which is the reason we have shown concern. This is the major reason we say we want to relax and look at the government in the main time; we are not calling off this strike, we are only suspending it to see if the government will do the needful.”

Labor, however, noted that they have come to terms on some of their 14 point demands and will be made known to the public in no distant time.

By: Archibong Emmanuel
Snr. Reporter