Cross River state government has faulted organised labour’s insistence on industrial action despite meeting their demands.
Deputy Governor of the state, Professor Ivara Esu who spoke at a scheduled meeting with labour leaders decried their belligerent posture, wondering why they failed to keep to their part of the agreement with government.
He also condemned labour’s failure to turn up for the meeting and their resort to locking up government offices.
“We called those who signed this document to come for a meeting with us. Not necessarily for negotiations but at least let us hear who they represent, and perhaps what they are about.
“Though organized labour is not known to law in terms of issues between employer and employee, they signed this document and we invited them for a meeting and we have been waiting here, not even one of them has shown up”, the evidently upset Processor Esu said.
Enumerating government’s efforts at fulfilling its agreement with labour, the Deputy Governor disclosed that “the implementation of promotion of workers has just been approved by His Excellency, the Governor to commence in phases and even as we speak in the last salary payment, this was implemented.
“In terms of remittances from workers’ salaries, the Governor has also approved four months and that three months be made ready in the first instance and these things are verifiable and these guys are not aware, they don’t ask questions, they just wake up to declare a strike”